Family of Times Square Stabbing Suspect Questions Police Response Amid Mental Health History

Key points

• Pamela Cisneros, 49, stabbed a 68-year-old man and 32-year-old Erin Piacenti in Times Square near 41st Street and Seventh Avenue around 4:30 p.m. on Monday.
• NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated officers spent approximately four minutes trying to persuade Cisneros to drop two knives, using stun guns before ultimately firing their weapons as she advanced.
• Cisneros told officers, 'I’m not dropping anything, I would rather kill both of you,' according to Tisch. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
• Erin Piacenti, a vice president at Bank of America, died at Bellevue Hospital. The 68-year-old male victim was hospitalized in stable condition.
• Cisneros had a documented mental health history with incidents in 2018 and 2019, including a suicide attempt, but her brother said she had been stable on medication for four to five years.
• Cisneros’s mother questioned why officers did not physically restrain her, while her brother expressed confusion over the sudden violence, noting she had no prior arrest history.

Background

This incident is the second fatal stabbing in Times Square this year, following a May incident. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch previously noted a general decline in violent crime in the city. The attack occurred in a high-traffic area, leading to significant street closures and emergency response. Cisneros had previously lived in Florida with her children before returning to New York, where she worked intermittently and lived in Woodside.

How outlets are covering it

FOX 5 New York highlighted the family's immediate reaction, with Cisneros’s mother questioning why officers did not physically grab her, and her brother stating she had never been violent. Gothamist provided detailed background on Cisneros’s mental health struggles, including postpartum depression and bipolar disorder, and noted her recent stability. The Guardian focused on the victim, Erin Piacenti, confirming her role at Bank of America and noting her recent law degree. The Independent’s content was largely obscured by technical code, but it confirmed the fatal outcome and the police response. There is a contrast between the family’s shock and the NYPD’s emphasis on the four-minute de-escalation attempt before lethal force was used.

Why it matters

The incident raises questions about the handling of mental health crises in public spaces and the use of lethal force by police. It also highlights the impact of random violence in high-traffic urban areas. The family’s statements and the NYPD’s account offer different perspectives on the events leading to the fatal shooting.

What to watch

The investigation into the stabbing and the police shooting is ongoing. Bank of America has stated its security teams are supporting the police investigation. The family of the victim, Erin Piacenti, has declined to comment. Further details on Cisneros’s mental health history and the circumstances leading to the attack may emerge as the investigation continues.