Bank of America VP Erin Piacenti Killed in Times Square Knife Attack

Erin Piacenti, a 32-year-old Vice President at Bank of America, tragically lost her life after being fatally stabbed in the bustling heart of Times Square, New York. The assailant, identified as 49-year-old Pamela Cisneros Lopez, was subsequently shot by law enforcement officers.

Ms. Piacenti, a resident of Chester in the Garden State, was a Vice President of business selection and conflicts for the financial institution. She had recently marked her second wedding anniversary with her husband, Frank, in August of 2024.

The violent spree by Lopez also saw a 68-year-old man stabbed in the stomach; he is currently receiving treatment in hospital and is reported to be in stable condition. Police reports indicate that Lopez brandished two knives, pulling them from a shopping bag, and first attacked the man who was waiting to cross the street with his wife. She then proceeded to stab Ms. Piacenti in the abdomen, leading to her eventual death from the injuries sustained.

During a press briefing alongside Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch recounted Lopez's defiant words to officers during a brief confrontation: "I'm not dropping anything, I would rather kill both of you." Commissioner Tisch emphasized the extreme danger of the situation, stating, "This was an extraordinarily dangerous situation unfolding in the heart of Times Square, the crossroads of the world. At any given moment, there are thousands of New Yorkers, commuters, tourists, families, workers moving through these streets."

She further disclosed that Lopez has a "documented mental health history" with the police department, involving two prior incidents in 2018 and 2019, though no arrests were made at those times. Authorities have not yet confirmed if the victims were tourists or local residents. Both Commissioner Tisch and Mayor Mamdani commended the officers involved, asserting that their prompt intervention prevented further casualties. While the incident was initially reported as a knifepoint robbery, police, according to ABC 7, now believe the emotionally disturbed woman acted without a clear motive for the assault.