Erin Piacenti Stabbing Death: Bank of America VP Fatally Stabbed in Times Square Attack
The New York City community is mourning Erin Piacenti, a 32-year-old Bank of America vice president who was fatally stabbed during a violent attack in Times Square on Monday, August 31, 2026.
Piacenti, who lived in Chester, New Jersey, was identified as the woman who died after being stabbed near West 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. She was taken to NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, where she was later pronounced dead from her injuries.
Her death has shocked colleagues, friends and loved ones, particularly because the attack occurred in one of New York City’s busiest public areas in the middle of the afternoon.
Remembering Erin Piacenti
Erin Piacenti was a vice president at Bank of America, where she worked in the bank’s business selection and conflicts unit. Bank of America confirmed her death and described her as a valued member of its team.
Before beginning her professional career in banking and law, Piacenti attended the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 2016. She later graduated from Fordham Law School in 2021.
Reports about her personal life say that Piacenti had recently celebrated her second wedding anniversary. She had also recently purchased a home in Chester with her husband, making the sudden loss particularly devastating for her family.
Her colleagues are now remembering a respected professional whose life and career were cut tragically short.
What Happened to Erin Piacenti?
According to the NYPD and multiple reports, a woman identified as 49-year-old Pamela Cisneros allegedly approached people in Times Square carrying two knives.
Police said Cisneros first attacked a 68-year-old man near West 41st Street and Seventh Avenue before attacking Piacenti moments later. Both victims were taken to Bellevue Hospital. The man survived and was reported to be in stable condition.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the attack as random and unprovoked. Investigators have not identified a motive for the stabbing.
Erin Piacenti Cause of Death
Erin Piacenti’s cause of death was stab wounds sustained during the Times Square attack. Police and multiple news organizations reported that she died at Bellevue Hospital after suffering the stabbing injuries.
The NYPD is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Police Shooting After the Stabbing
Following the stabbing, officers confronted Cisneros nearby. Police said she was holding two knives and refused commands to drop them. Officers attempted to use less-lethal measures before Cisneros advanced toward them, prompting police to shoot her.
She was taken to Bellevue Hospital and later died. The NYPD Force Investigation Division is investigating the police shooting, as is standard for an incident involving officers using deadly force.
The two separate deaths—the stabbing victim and the woman who was shot by police—occurred during the same rapidly unfolding incident, but Piacenti was killed by the stabbing, not by police gunfire.
Family, Friends and Colleagues Mourn
Piacenti’s death has left her family, husband, friends and professional colleagues facing an unimaginable loss. Her recent wedding anniversary and plans for her future make the sudden nature of her death particularly painful.
Bank of America expressed its sorrow over the loss of its colleague and extended its sympathies to Piacenti’s family and loved ones.
For those who knew Erin personally and professionally, she will be remembered not simply as a Bank of America executive but as a wife, friend, colleague and loved one whose life was tragically cut short.
Erin Piacenti’s death has brought grief to her family and colleagues and renewed attention to the dangers of seemingly random violence in crowded public spaces. As the NYPD continues its investigation, those who knew her are left to remember her life, accomplishments and the future she was building with her loved ones.