Unexpected Times Square attack kills newlywed Bank of America lawyer: Who was Erin Piacent By Luís Henrique Costa
2 min read
 |
A lawyer and Bank of America employee who worked just a block away was the victim of a fatal attack, described as “random and unprovoked,” in Times Square on August 31, 2026. The woman was stabbed to death in what shocked New York City.
The New York Police Department identified the victim as 32-year-old Erin Piacenti. Police reported that she was hit in the abdomen after being approached by a suspect on Seventh Avenue, in Times Square, and succumbed to her injuries, passing away in a hospital.
In a statement, Bank of America expressed its dismay. “We are shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our colleague,” the charity said.
Erin Piacenti had completed her law degree at Fordham Law School in 2021. The school mourned the death of the former student, declaring itself deeply impacted by the news.
The lawyer had recently celebrated her second wedding anniversary with her husband, Frank, who also works in the legal field. Additionally, the couple had purchased their first home in Chester, New Jersey, according to real estate records. The tragedy interrupted moments of great personal fulfillment for Erin.
A second victim, a 68-year-old man from Rhode Island, was also attacked by the suspect. He had just gotten off the subway and was with his wife waiting to cross the street when the attacker took two knives from a red bag, waved them and wounded him in the right side of the abdomen, according to a witness’ statement to investigators.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the injured man was in stable condition.
Police identified the attacker as 49-year-old Queens resident Pamela Cisneros. During the police approach, Cisneros refused to drop the knives.
“During the confrontation, she told the police: ‘I’m not going to drop anything. I’d rather kill them both,'” Tisch reported. “She repeated: ‘I’m going to kill you’.”
Cisneros then began brandishing knives and advanced toward the agents. Police initially deployed Tasers before “two officers fired their service weapons,” as Tisch detailed.
“Cisneros has a documented history of mental health issues with the NYPD, with one incident in 2018 and another in 2019; she has no history of arrests with the department,” Tisch told reporters. She added that there is no indication that the attack was an act of terrorism.
