NYC Crime: Bank of America Executive Killed in Unprovoked Times Square Stabbing

A 32-year-old Bank of America vice president has died after she was allegedly stabbed by a knife-wielding woman in the middle of New York City’s Times Square.

The victim, identified as Erin Piacenti, of Chester, New Jersey, was reportedly stabbed in the abdomen by 49-year-old Pamela Cisneros Lopez during what police described as a random stabbing spree.

Piacenti, who worked as Bank of America’s vice president of business selection and conflicts, was rushed for medical attention but succumbed to her injuries.

She had recently celebrated her second wedding anniversary after marrying her husband, Frank, in August 2024.

According to police, Lopez pulled two knives from a shopping bag and attacked a 68-year-old man who was waiting to cross the street with his wife. The man was stabbed in the stomach and remains hospitalised in stable condition.

Police said Lopez then attacked Piacenti, stabbing her in the abdomen.

Officers eventually confronted Lopez during a brief standoff. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the suspect refused to surrender and told officers, “I’m not dropping anything, I would rather kill both of you.”

Speaking at a press conference alongside New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Tisch described the incident as an “extraordinarily dangerous situation” in the heart of Times Square.

“This was an extraordinarily dangerous situation unfolding in the heart of Times Square, the crossroads of the world,” Tisch said.

She noted that thousands of New Yorkers, commuters, tourists, families and workers are present in the area at any given time.

Police said Lopez has a documented history of mental health-related encounters with the department, including incidents in 2018 and 2019, although she was not arrested on either occasion.

The suspect was eventually shot by police and stopped after the attacks.

Authorities have not confirmed whether the victims were tourists or residents of New York City.

Police initially responded to reports of a possible knifepoint robbery, but investigators now believe Lopez may have had no clear motive for the attacks.

Tisch and Mayor Mamdani praised the responding officers, saying their intervention may have prevented further injuries or deaths.