A Bank of America vice president, Erin Piacenti, 32, of Chester, New Jersey, was fatally stabbed on Monday evening while on her way home from work in Times Square. The alleged attacker, Pamela Cisneros Lopez, 49, of Queens, was fatally shot by responding police officers after she attacked them with knives.

Piacenti had stopped briefly near a street vendor when she was attacked and slashed in the stomach. She was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Tak Ching Kam, 68, was also seriously injured in the attack, suffering stab wounds to his leg.

According to her LinkedIn profile, Piacenti was a vice president of business selection and conflicts at Bank of America. She had recently returned to work after a five-month maternity leave, having given birth to her daughter in March. She had posted a photo with her newborn and husband, Frank, just days before her death, expressing gratitude for her time on leave and celebrating her daughter's baptism and their second wedding anniversary.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing Kam bleeding profusely and calling for help. Another witness described seeing Piacenti on the ground, not conscious, as police attempted resuscitation.

Pamela Cisneros Lopez, 49, was fatally gunned down after running at officers with the two kitchen knives

Police encountered Lopez in Times Square, where she was reportedly waving two kitchen knives. Officers deployed a Taser, but it did not stop her from charging at them. Police then discharged their firearms, fatally striking Lopez. She was taken into custody and given first aid.

Footage showed officers hitting Lopez with a Taser as she waved the blades at them, but it was not enough to stop her running at them

Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that Lopez had a documented mental health history with the department, including two incidents in 2018 and 2019, but had never been arrested. Tisch described the situation as "extraordinarily dangerous" given the dense crowds in Times Square. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Commissioner Tisch commended the officers' actions in preventing further casualties.

Officers are seen here investigating the scene on Monday night in the middle of Times Square

The incident was initially reported as a knifepoint robbery, but investigators believe the emotionally disturbed woman had no clear motive. Police have stated there is no evidence to suggest it was a terrorist attack.

Piancenti had recently celebrated her second wedding anniversary with her husband, Frank

Piancenti was stabbed in the abdomen and was pronounced dead at a local hospital