Woman killed in Times Square stabbing, suspect shot dead by police

September 1, 2026

A deadly stabbing incident occurred in Times Square on Monday afternoon when a 49-year-old woman armed with two knives randomly attacked pedestrians within a 20-second span. The assailant first stabbed a 68-year-old man who had just exited the subway, then fatally wounded 32-year-old Erin Piacenti, a Bank of America employee, as she continued down Seventh Avenue. Police attempted to de-escalate the situation for four minutes before deploying Tasers, which proved ineffective when the suspect threatened to kill officers and advanced toward them with knives.

Who is affected

Erin Piacenti (32-year-old Bank of America employee, deceased victim)
A 68-year-old man (stabbed, hospitalized in stable condition) and his wife
Pamela Cisneros (49-year-old suspect from Queens, shot and killed)
Bank of America (employer of deceased victim)
NYPD officers who responded to the scene
Witnesses and tourists in Times Square, including Melinda Puzon from Boston

What action is being taken

The 68-year-old male victim is receiving treatment at Bellevue Hospital where he remains in stable condition
NYPD is conducting an investigation into the incident

Why it matters

This incident highlights ongoing concerns about random violence and public safety in one of New York City's most heavily trafficked tourist destinations. The case also underscores challenges law enforcement faces when responding to individuals with documented mental health histories, as the suspect had previous mental health incidents documented by NYPD in 2018 and 2019. The unprovoked nature of the attack and the suspect's resistance to non-lethal intervention methods raises questions about preparedness and response protocols for similar situations.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC