Police in New York shot and killed a knife-wielding woman after she stabbed two people in apparently unprovoked attacks in Times Square, leaving one victim dead and another hospitalized.
The incident left a 32-year-old woman, identified as Bank of America vice president Erin Piacenti, dead and a 68-year-old man hospitalizsed but in stable condition. The 49-year-old suspect, Pamela Cisneros of Queens, was also taken to hospital and later pronounced dead.
According to New York Police Department, NYPD, Commissioner Jessica Tisch, police received multiple 911 calls at about 4:24 p.m. reporting a woman armed with two knives and attacking people along Seventh Avenue in Midtown Manhattan.
Investigators believe the first attack occurred near West 41st Street and Seventh Avenue, where Cisneros allegedly approached a 68-year-old man who had just exited the subway and was standing with his wife waiting to cross the street.
A witness told investigators that the suspect removed two knives from a red Target bag before approaching the man.
Tisch said the woman then waved the knives and stabbed him in the right side of his abdomen in what appeared to be a random and unprovoked attack. The man was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he remained in stable condition.
About 20 seconds later, according to Tisch, the suspect continued north along Seventh Avenue towards 42nd Street, where she allegedly attacked Piacenti. The 32-year-old woman was taken to hospital but later died from her injuries.
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Bank of America confirmed Piacenti’s death and expressed condolences to her family, describing her as a valued colleague who would be greatly missed.
The suspect continued along Seventh Avenue before officers confronted her and ordered her to drop the knives. Tisch said officers spoke with Cisneros for about four minutes in an effort to de-escalate the situation.
During the confrontation, Cisneros allegedly told officers, “I’m not dropping anything, I’d rather kill both of you,” she then waved the knives towards the officers, prompting them to use Tasers.
The Tasers were ineffective, according to Tisch, and the woman continued moving towards the officers. Police then opened fire, striking Cisneros. She was transported to Bellevue Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Tisch said Cisneros had no previous arrest record but had a documented mental health history with the NYPD, including incidents in 2018 and 2019.
A tourist from Boston, Melinda Puzon, told CBS News, the BBC’s US reporting partner, that she heard the gunshots and saw large numbers of people on the street. “It’s very shocking,” she said.
The NYPD is continuing its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the stabbings and the police shooting.
News Express
