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

A 32‑year‑old woman was fatally stabbed in Times Square on Monday afternoon while a second victim, a 68‑year‑old man, was wounded; both attacks occurred within twenty seconds of each other along Seventh Avenue near West 41st Street. Police identified the attacker as 49‑year‑old Pamela Cisneros of Queens, who was armed with two knives taken from a red Target bag. After a brief four‑minute negotiation in which Cisneros repeatedly threatened officers, NYPD officers fired their weapons, killing her. The female victim, later named as Erin Piacenti, a Bank of America employee, and the suspect were pronounced dead at Bellevue Hospital, while the male victim remains in stable condition.

The incident was classified as a random, unprovoked assault, with NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch noting that the suspect had a documented mental‑health history involving prior NYPD contacts in 2018 and 2019 but no prior arrests. Emergency calls arrived at approximately 16:24 local time, reporting a woman wielding knives and stabbing people. Witnesses described Cisneros removing the knives from her bag, waving them, and stabbing the 68‑year‑old man in the abdomen before continuing down Seventh Avenue, prompting police to attempt non‑lethal intervention with Tasers, which proved ineffective. The suspect’s refusal to surrender and explicit threats—“I’m not dropping anything, I’d rather kill both of you”—led officers to use lethal force.

Bank of America expressed shock and sorrow over Piacenti’s death, calling her a valued teammate. A Boston tourist, Melinda Puzon, recounted hearing the gunshots amid the crowded street. The attack underscores ongoing concerns about public safety in high‑traffic areas and the challenges police face when confronting individuals with mental‑health issues who are armed, highlighting the limits of Tasers and the rapid escalation to lethal force in such scenarios.

⚡ Effects Interpreter