A 32-year-old woman was killed and a 68-year-old man was wounded in what police described as a random and unprovoked stabbing attack in Times Square on Monday afternoon. The armed suspect was later fatally shot by NYPD officers after police said she refused repeated commands to drop two knives and advanced toward them.
The victim who died was identified as Erin Piacenti, 32, of Chester, New Jersey. The second victim, a 68-year-old man, was treated at Bellevue Hospital and was released late Tuesday, according to ABC7 New York. ABC7 New York reported the latest victim update.
What happened in Times Square? Police say Pamela Cisneros stabbed two strangers near Seventh Avenue and West 41st Street within about 20 seconds. Officers later confronted her while she was still armed. After several minutes of commands and unsuccessful Taser deployments, two officers fired when police said she advanced with the knives. Cisneros later died at Bellevue Hospital.
What police say happened
The incident began at about 4:26 p.m. on August 31 near West 41st Street and Seventh Avenue, according to police accounts reported by ABC7 and NBC New York. A witness told investigators that the suspect pulled two knives from a shopping bag before attacking a 68-year-old man who had just left the subway with his wife. About 20 seconds later, police say she stabbed Piacenti in the abdomen. NBC New York detailed the police timeline.
- Erin Piacenti, 32, was taken to a hospital and died from her injuries.
- The 68-year-old male victim was hospitalized and later released, according to ABC7 New York.
- Police recovered two knives they say were carried by the suspect.
- Authorities have described the attacks as random and unprovoked, with no evidence of a terrorism motive reported.
How the police confrontation unfolded
After the stabbings, officers confronted Cisneros between West 42nd and West 43rd streets. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said officers spent roughly four minutes speaking with her and repeatedly ordering her to drop the knives. Police said stun guns were deployed but did not stop her. Two officers then fired as she moved toward them while still armed.
The Associated Press and NBC New York reported that Cisneros had no criminal record. Police said the department had documented prior mental health-related encounters involving her in 2018 and 2019. Factelle is omitting her age because published reports contain a conflicting figure.
What is known about the suspect’s prior history
Police said Cisneros had prior mental health-related encounters with the NYPD. Her brother told Gothamist that she had experienced mental health problems but had not been known by him to become violent because of them.
That history does not establish a motive or explain the violence. Police have not publicly identified a motive, and no reported evidence links the attack to terrorism.
Who was Erin Piacenti?
Piacenti was a Bank of America vice president and a 2021 graduate of Fordham Law School. She lived in Chester, New Jersey. Bank of America and Fordham both issued statements mourning her death, according to reporting by NBC New York and the Associated Press. NBC New York identified Piacenti and reported on tributes.
What happens next?
The police shooting is being reviewed by the NYPD Force Investigation Division, which handles cases in which officers fire their weapons. Investigators are also continuing to examine the circumstances leading to the stabbings and the suspect’s actions before police arrived.
The case remains under investigation. Conclusions about motive, police tactics or earlier intervention should depend on official findings rather than early speculation.
Times Square attack at a glance
| Detail | Verified information |
| Date | August 31, 2026 |
| Location | Times Square, near Seventh Avenue and West 41st Street |
| Fatal victim | Erin Piacenti, 32 |
| Second victim | 68-year-old man, later released from hospital |
| Suspect | Pamela Cisneros |
| Police response | Verbal commands, Tasers, then gunfire after police say the armed suspect advanced |
| Motive | Not publicly established |
| Terrorism link | None reported by authorities |
Updated: September 10, 2026
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