A 32-year-old Bank of America executive has died after being attacked with a knife in New York City’s Times Square, in an incident that also left an older man injured.
Erin Piacenti, of Chester, New Jersey, died after sustaining an abdominal stab wound, according to authorities.
Police identified the alleged attacker as Pamela Cisneros Lopez, 49, who was later shot by officers following a confrontation.
Piacenti worked as a vice president at Bank of America, overseeing business selection and conflicts. She had recently marked her second wedding anniversary after marrying her husband, Frank, in August 2024.
You might want to read this: Robert Kiyosaki Reveals $1.2bn Debt, But Says It’s Not All Personally His
Attack in the Heart of Times Square
According to police, Lopez approached a 68-year-old man who was waiting to cross the street with his wife and allegedly pulled two knives from a shopping bag.
The man was stabbed in the abdomen and was taken to hospital. Authorities said he remained in stable condition.
Police allege Lopez then attacked Piacenti, who suffered a similar injury and later died.
The circumstances surrounding the attack remain under investigation.
Police Confront Suspect
Officers eventually confronted Lopez during what authorities described as a brief standoff.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Lopez refused to surrender the weapons and made a threat toward officers during the confrontation.
Tisch described the incident as an extremely dangerous situation because it unfolded in Times Square, one of New York’s busiest public spaces.
She noted that thousands of pedestrians, commuters, tourists, families and workers can be in the area at any given time.
Police Cite Mental Health History
Authorities said Lopez has a documented history of mental-health-related encounters with the New York Police Department.
According to Tisch, officers had dealt with her in two incidents, in 2018 and 2019, but she was not arrested in either case.
Police have not publicly established a motive for the attack.
The incident was initially reported as a possible robbery involving a knife, but investigators now believe the attack may have been random.
Officers Praised for Response
Both Tisch and Mayor Zohran Mamdani praised the responding officers, saying their intervention may have prevented additional injuries or deaths in the crowded area.
Authorities had not yet confirmed whether either victim was visiting New York or lived in the city.
The investigation remains ongoing as detectives work to establish what led to the attacks and what happened in the moments before Lopez allegedly approached the victims.