A Bank of America employee died and a Rhode Island tourist suffered life-threatening injuries after a knife-wielding woman launched a random attack in the heart of Times Square Monday afternoon, stabbing both victims within 20 seconds before police fatally shot her.

Victims Attacked Without Warning

Erin Piacenti, 32, of Chester, New Jersey, was pronounced dead at a hospital after being stabbed in the abdomen near 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue. A 68-year-old Rhode Island man who had just exited the subway with his wife became the first victim when the attacker pulled two knives from a bag and stabbed him without provocation near 41st Street, according to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. Both victims were targeted in what investigators describe as completely random attacks.

Bank of America released a statement expressing shock and deep sadness over the tragic loss of their colleague, extending condolences to Piacenti’s family and loved ones. The 68-year-old victim remains hospitalized in stable condition after receiving treatment for life-threatening injuries sustained in the unprovoked assault.

Confrontation Ends In Fatal Shooting

After stabbing both victims, the suspect fled north toward an NYPD substation where witnesses alerted officers to her location. Police confronted 49-year-old Pamela Cisneros of Queens for four minutes, repeatedly ordering her to drop her weapons. Cisneros refused all commands and threatened officers directly, telling them she would rather kill them both and repeatedly stating she would kill them, according to Commissioner Tisch’s briefing.

Officers deployed Tasers in an attempt to subdue Cisneros before two officers discharged their firearms. She was pronounced dead at a hospital. Police recovered two knives from the scene and released photos of the weapons used in the attacks. Authorities confirmed Cisneros had a documented mental health history and emphasized the incident was not terror-related.

Investigation And Response

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani praised NYPD officers for preventing an even worse tragedy, thanking them for their daily commitment to keeping the city safe. The department will conduct an internal investigation into the officer-involved shooting, and body-worn camera footage will be released to the public. The attack occurred in one of Manhattan’s busiest tourist areas, where millions of visitors pass through daily, raising fresh concerns about public safety in heavily trafficked locations.