Bank of America VP Killed in Times Square Stabbing; Suspect Shot Dead

Erin Piacenti, a Bank of America vice-president, was killed in a stabbing at Times Square on Monday.

Piacenti, 32, died at the hospital from her injuries. Bank of America stated it was shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic loss of their colleague. The suspect, Pamela Cisneros Lopez, 49, was shot dead by police after the attack. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said a woman carrying multiple knives stabbed two people in Times Square before police used a taser and fired their weapons.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch called it an unprovoked double stabbing that occurred within approximately 20 seconds. The incident began near West 41st Street and Seventh Avenue at approximately 4:24 PM local time. A witness observed Cisneros Lopez remove two knives from a red Target bag before approaching the first victim, a 68-year-old man who had just exited the subway with his wife.

Cisneros Lopez stabbed the 68-year-old man in the right side of his abdomen. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital and is in stable condition. The suspect then continued up Seventh Avenue towards 42nd Street, where she stabbed Piacenti in the abdomen. Officers confronted Cisneros Lopez between 42nd and 43rd streets while she was still armed with both knives.

Officers spoke to her for four minutes, telling her to drop the knives, but she refused. Cisneros Lopez told officers, "I'm not dropping anything, I would rather kill both of you." Responding officers fired stun guns at her, which did not appear effective. Cisneros Lopez then advanced toward officers, prompting two officers to open fire.

She fell to the ground, was handcuffed, and given first aid before being pronounced dead at the hospital. NYPD Commissioner Tisch stated the attacks appeared random and unprovoked, and investigators do not believe the attack was terrorism-related. Cisneros Lopez had a documented mental health history with the department, including two incidents in 2018 and 2019, but no prior arrests. Police have not provided any information about her motive.