Bank of America Vice President Erin Piacenti was killed during a high-profile stabbing in New York City’s Times Square on Monday.
The New York City Police Department (NYPD) identified Erin Piacenti, 32, of Chester, New Jersey, as the deceased victim.
Bank of America acknowledged Piacenti’s death in an email obtained by Reuters.
“We are shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our colleague. She was a valued teammate who will be greatly missed. Our hearts go out to her family and all of her loved ones,” the bank wrote in the email.
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Piacenti was one of two people stabbed in the violent attack Monday, the other a 68-year-old male who is now in stable condition, according to the NYPD.
After receiving a 911 call shortly before 4:30 p.m. on Monday, NYPD officers found a 49-year-old woman wielding two knives in Times Square.
The NYPD identified her as Pamela Cisneros, of Queen, New York. Officers shot Cisneros, who was later pronounced dead at the hospital, the department said.
A witness told investigators that Cisneros pulled two butcher knives from a red Target bag, waving the blades at the 68-year-old man before stabbing him in the abdomen. The pair of stabbings occurred within 20 seconds of each other, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said during a Monday press conference.
Tisch also called the stabbing spree a “random and unprovoked attack.”
Officers entered into a tense standoff with Cisneros before ultimately shooting her, Tisch relayed.
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During the four-minute stalemate, officers repeatedly warned her to drop the weapons, to which she replied “I’m not dropping anything. I would rather kill both of you,” Tisch explained.
Cisneros then allegedly began advancing towards the officers waving her blades. Officers, according to Tisch, deployed tasers, which did not slow Cisneros’ advance. It was at that point two officers discharged their firearms, striking Cisneros.
“Our officers were confronted with a rapidly evolving threat, with countless innocent people around them,” Tisch said. “In that moment, they did what we train them to do.”
While Cisneros had no criminal record, she had multiple police interactions involving mental health episodes, Tisch said.
“One life cut far too short by a senseless act of violence,” Tisch said. “There are family members and loved ones who are now confronting the unimaginable loss, and our hearts are with them,” she added.
Fox News Digital’s Stepheny Price contributed to this report.
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