NEW YORK CITY — A chaotic afternoon in the heart of Times Square ended with two people stabbed, one victim dead, and the attacker fatally shot by police after officers said she refused repeated commands to drop two knives.
The suspect was identified by the NYPD as Pamela Cisneros, 49, of Queens. Police said Cisneros had a documented mental-health history but no prior arrest history. Authorities have not identified a motive and said there is currently no indication that the attack was terrorism-related.
The two stabbings happened within approximately 20 seconds of each other near Seventh Avenue and West 41st Street and West 42nd Street on Monday, August 31, according to NYPD officials.
One of the victims, 32-year-old Erin Piacenti of Chester, New Jersey, later died at Bellevue Hospital. A 68-year-old man who was also stabbed was hospitalized and is expected to survive.
Pamela Cisneros Stabbed Two People in Times Square
According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the incident began shortly after 4:20 p.m. near West 41st Street and Seventh Avenue.
Police said Cisneros approached a 68-year-old man who had just exited the subway with his wife and was waiting to cross the street.
A witness reportedly told investigators that Cisneros removed two knives from a red Target shopping bag before approaching the man.
She allegedly stabbed him in the abdomen before continuing north along Seventh Avenue toward West 42nd Street.
The attack on the second victim followed almost immediately.
Police said Cisneros approached Erin Piacenti, 32, and stabbed her in the abdomen in what investigators described as another apparently random and unprovoked attack.
Both victims were taken to Bellevue Hospital.
Piacenti died from her injuries, while the 68-year-old man remained hospitalized in stable condition.
Erin Piacenti Identified as Fatal Times Square Stabbing Victim
Piacenti, a 32-year-old woman from Chester, New Jersey, was identified as the person who died following the Times Square attack.
Reports indicate that Piacenti was a professional working in New York City and had recently celebrated her second wedding anniversary.
Her death has added a deeply personal dimension to an attack that police characterized as apparently random.
Authorities have not publicly identified the 68-year-old male victim.
Police Confronted Pamela Cisneros Near Times Square Substation
After the stabbings, Cisneros allegedly continued north toward an NYPD substation near West 43rd Street.
Witnesses alerted officers, who confronted her while she was still holding the knives.
Tisch said officers spent approximately four minutes attempting to persuade Cisneros to surrender her weapons.
According to the commissioner, Cisneros repeatedly refused.
Tisch said Cisneros told officers:
“I’m not dropping anything. I would rather kill both of you.”
She reportedly repeated that she would kill the officers.
Video circulating from the scene appeared to show Cisneros holding a knife in each hand while officers maintained a perimeter around her.
NYPD Used Tasers Before Opening Fire
Police said officers first attempted to use less-lethal force.
Multiple officers deployed Tasers, but the devices were reportedly ineffective.
According to Tisch, Cisneros continued waving the knives and then advanced toward officers.
Two officers subsequently discharged their service weapons, striking Cisneros.
She was transported to Bellevue Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Police later recovered two knives at the scene.
The shooting was captured on officers’ body-worn cameras.
NYPD Shooting Will Be Investigated
Although city officials defended the officers’ response, the police shooting will undergo an investigation, as is standard following an officer-involved shooting.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said body-camera footage from the encounter will be released publicly.
Mamdani also thanked the officers who responded, saying their intervention prevented the attack from becoming even more deadly.
Tisch similarly defended the officers, describing the situation as an extraordinarily dangerous confrontation unfolding in one of the busiest areas of New York City.
Thousands of pedestrians, tourists, commuters and workers can be present in Times Square at any given moment, making the presence of an armed person particularly dangerous.
Pamela Cisneros Had Documented Mental-Health History
Police said Cisneros had a documented history of mental-health encounters with the NYPD dating back to 2018 and 2019.
Tisch did not disclose details about those previous incidents.
Police said Cisneros had no prior arrests.
The existence of a mental-health history does not, by itself, establish why the attack occurred or explain Cisneros’ actions. Investigators have not announced a motive.
Authorities also said there was no indication at this time that the incident was terrorism-related.
Times Square Stabbings Send Tourists Running for Safety
The violence unfolded in one of New York City’s most heavily visited public spaces, sending pedestrians scrambling as police and emergency crews flooded the area.
Witnesses described seeing Cisneros carrying knives and moving through the crowded streets before officers confronted her.
Videos posted online showed a large police presence surrounding the suspect as officers attempted to bring the situation under control.
The incident also temporarily disrupted activity around Seventh Avenue as investigators worked to process the crime scene.
For tourists who happened to be in Times Square, the sudden violence was particularly alarming.
Investigation Into Deadly Attack and Police Shooting Continues
The NYPD’s investigation now includes two separate but connected questions: what prompted the alleged stabbings and whether the officers’ use of deadly force complied with department procedures and New York law.
Investigators are expected to review witness statements, surveillance footage, body-worn camera recordings and physical evidence recovered from the scene.
At this point, authorities have not announced a motive for the stabbings.
The 68-year-old victim is expected to survive, while Erin Piacenti’s death has turned the incident into a fatal attack.
Cisneros was killed by police after officers said less-lethal tactics failed and she continued advancing while armed with two knives.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional details are expected as authorities review the evidence and prepare to release body-camera footage.
