Bank of America vice president killed in Times Square stabbing
A daylight knife attack in Times Square leaves a Bank of America vice president dead after a woman stabs two people before police shoot her.
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NEW YORK: A Bank of America vice president, Erin Piacenti, was killed in a stabbing at Times Square on Monday (Aug 31).
"We are shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our colleague. She was a valued teammate who will be greatly missed. Our hearts go out to her family and all of her loved ones," the US banking giant said in an emailed statement to Reuters.
Piacenti - a vice president of business selection and conflicts at the bank - died at the hospital from the stabbing injuries, according to a Bloomberg News report, which first reported the news.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on Monday in a press briefing that a woman carrying multiple knives stabbed two people in Times Square before police used a Taser and fired their weapons.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch added the attacks appeared random and unprovoked, and that officers fired after Tasers failed to stop the woman from advancing toward them with knives.
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
The attacker, identified as 49-year-old Queens resident Pamela Cisneros, who was known to have mental health issues, pulled two large knives from a bag bearing the logo of a well-known supermarket chain before threatening passersby in broad daylight, New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.
Authorities originally said she approached a 68-year-old man and stabbed him in the abdomen. Twenty seconds later, she attacked a 32-year-old woman, also stabbing her in the abdomen - wounds from which she later died.
Police quickly intervened and tried to persuade Cisneros to drop her weapons.
"The officers engaged the woman in dialogue for four minutes and gave her numerous commands to drop the knives, which she refused," Tisch said.
"During the encounter, she told the officers, 'I'm not dropping anything. I would rather kill both of you,'" Tisch added.
One witness told local TV outlet PIX11 that the suspect had two knives in her hands and was tased by police before she rushed at officers.
"They shot her twice," said the unnamed witness.
Police confirmed that they had unsuccessfully used a stun gun before firing their handguns.
Local news reports said the suspect was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Tisch said that they do not believe the attack was terror-related.
"This was an extraordinarily dangerous situation unfolding in the heart of Times Square, the crossroads of the world," the police chief said.
"At any given moment, there are thousands of New Yorkers, commuters, tourists, families, workers moving through these streets."
An AFP journalist at the scene saw a large emergency services presence and officials inspecting a patch of blood in Times Square.
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