Erin Piacenti, 32, a Bank of America vice president and attorney from Chester, New Jersey, was fatally stabbed on the afternoon of August 31, 2026, in Times Square. She was one of two people attacked without warning by a woman carrying two knives near West 41st Street and Seventh Avenue, police said. Piacenti died at Bellevue Hospital; officers shot and killed the suspect at the scene after she refused to drop her weapons. As her name makes headlines nationwide, here's what's confirmed about her and what happened.
She lived in Chester Township, New Jersey, and had recently celebrated her second wedding anniversary with her husband, Frank, also an attorney.
Cisneros was carrying two knives in a shopping bag, officers said. She first approached a 68-year-old man from Rhode Island, who was walking with his wife after visiting their son in Brooklyn, and stabbed him in the abdomen. She then walked north up Seventh Avenue and stabbed Piacenti in the abdomen as well. The man survived; Piacenti died of her injuries.
Witnesses flagged down officers, CBS New York reports, leading to a confrontation with Cisneros that lasted several minutes, during which officers repeatedly ordered her to drop the knives. She refused and threatened to kill the officers, saying at one point, "I'd rather kill both of you." They fired Tasers, which had no effect, and fatally shot her when she advanced toward them.
Unresolved/disputed: Police and major outlets have not verified early online posts claiming Piacenti's husband was injured or present during the attack. Whether the couple had a child is also unconfirmed. Both should be treated as unverified until police or family members address them directly.
Trendglamory has been unable to find reliable, publicly available information about Piacenti's salary or net worth, and figures circulating online based on general Bank of America VP compensation should not be taken as specific to her.
So, who was Erin Piacenti?
According to Fortune, Piacenti's LinkedIn profile listed her as vice president of business selection and conflicts for Bank of America, whose office is about a block from where she was attacked. She was also a licensed attorney. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2016 and from Fordham Law School in 2021. Before joining Bank of America, she worked at Davis Polk & Wardwell and at Morgan Stanley.She lived in Chester Township, New Jersey, and had recently celebrated her second wedding anniversary with her husband, Frank, also an attorney.
What Happened in Times Square
The attack was "random" and unprovoked, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch told ABC News, adding that it is not being treated as terrorism. The suspect was identified as 49-year-old Pamela Cisneros. Police said Cisneros had no criminal record but had prior contact with officers over mental health episodes.Cisneros was carrying two knives in a shopping bag, officers said. She first approached a 68-year-old man from Rhode Island, who was walking with his wife after visiting their son in Brooklyn, and stabbed him in the abdomen. She then walked north up Seventh Avenue and stabbed Piacenti in the abdomen as well. The man survived; Piacenti died of her injuries.
Witnesses flagged down officers, CBS New York reports, leading to a confrontation with Cisneros that lasted several minutes, during which officers repeatedly ordered her to drop the knives. She refused and threatened to kill the officers, saying at one point, "I'd rather kill both of you." They fired Tasers, which had no effect, and fatally shot her when she advanced toward them.
Timeline of the Attack
| Time (Aug. 31, 2026) | What Happened |
| Around 4:24–4:30 p.m. | Suspect stabs a 68-year-old man near West 41st/42nd Street and Seventh Avenue |
| Shortly after | Suspect walks north and stabs Erin Piacenti in the abdomen |
| Following minutes | Witnesses call police; officers engage suspect for about four minutes |
| Same encounter | Suspect refuses to drop the knives; officers tase her without effect |
| Moments later | Suspect advances toward officers, who fatally shoot her |
| Later that day | Piacenti dies at Bellevue Hospital; the man is in stable condition |
What Bank of America and Fordham Have Said
In a statement to the Associated Press, Bank of America confirmed Piacenti's death, calling her "a valued teammate who will be greatly missed" and extending condolences to her family. Fordham Law School said it was heartbroken by the news of her death and extended condolences to her husband, Frank, and their families.What We Know vs. What's Still Unconfirmed
Confirmed:- Piacenti was 32 and lived in Chester, New Jersey.
- She was a Bank of America vice president and a Fordham Law graduate.
- She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2016.
- On August 31, 2026, she was stabbed to death in a "random and unprovoked" attack in Times Square.
- The attacker, Pamela Cisneros, 49, was shot and killed by police at the scene.
- A second victim, a 68-year-old man, survived.
Unresolved/disputed: Police and major outlets have not verified early online posts claiming Piacenti's husband was injured or present during the attack. Whether the couple had a child is also unconfirmed. Both should be treated as unverified until police or family members address them directly.
Trendglamory has been unable to find reliable, publicly available information about Piacenti's salary or net worth, and figures circulating online based on general Bank of America VP compensation should not be taken as specific to her.