A Bank of America vice president was fatally stabbed in broad daylight at New York City’s Times Square, according to U.S. media reports citing authorities.
The victim was identified as 32-year-old Erin Piacentini, who had recently returned to work after maternity leave and was the mother of a newborn child.
Bank of America, one of the largest lending institutions in the United States, expressed grief over her death in a statement, saying the company was “deeply saddened and shocked” by the loss of its colleague.
Who Was Erin Piacentini?
According to her LinkedIn profile, Piacentini graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and worked as a vice president in Bank of America’s Business Selection and Conflicts unit.
She also earned a law degree from Fordham Law School, graduating in 2021 alongside her husband, Frank Piacentini. Fordham Law School issued a statement mourning her death.
Just four days before the fatal attack, Piacentini had shared a smiling photograph with her husband and newborn child, expressing how happy she was with her life. According to The New York Times, she also thanked Bank of America for granting her five months of maternity leave.
She had recently celebrated her child’s naming ceremony and had been traveling with her husband, with the couple having recently marked their second wedding anniversary.
Her grandmother described Piacentini to The New York Times as an exceptionally beautiful young woman.
What Happened at Times Square?
Police said Piacentini was repeatedly stabbed by a woman in the busy Times Square area, one of New York’s most popular tourist and entertainment destinations.
Authorities later characterized the incident as a sudden and seemingly unprovoked attack.
A 68-year-old unidentified man was also injured in the incident and was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Police identified the alleged attacker on Tuesday, September 1, as 49-year-old Pamela Cisneros, a resident of Queens. She was shot and killed by police following the stabbing.
Suspect Had a History of Mental Health Issues
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Cisneros had been involved in two mental-health-related incidents that required police intervention in 2018 and 2019. She did not, however, have a known criminal record in New York City.
Police described Cisneros as a mother of three who had been experiencing serious mental health difficulties.
Her brother, Patrick Peralta, told media outlets that she had struggled with mental health problems for decades but had never been an aggressive person.
According to Peralta, Cisneros was taking medication and had been doing well in recent years. She occasionally worked at a law office as well.
He said he last saw his sister at a relative’s birthday gathering early in August. He later learned about Monday’s Times Square attack through the news.
Attack Raises Fresh Safety Concerns
The stabbing occurred in one of New York’s busiest and most heavily policed areas, close to a police station.
The incident has renewed concerns about public safety in Times Square, particularly after another person was fatally stabbed in the same area in May.
