GoFundMe for Times Square stabbing victim's infant daughter surpasses $500K

Key points

• Erin Piacenti, 32, was stabbed in the abdomen in Times Square on August 31, 2026, and pronounced dead at the hospital.
• Piacenti was a vice president at Bank of America and had recently returned from maternity leave after the birth of her daughter, Madison, who is 5 months old.
• A GoFundMe campaign established by Piacenti's family has raised over $501,000 from more than 5,000 donors to support Madison.
• The attacker, Pamela Cisneros, 49, stabbed Piacenti and a 68-year-old man within 20 seconds of each other before being shot and killed by NYPD officers.
• Cisneros had a documented mental health history, including incidents in 2018 and 2019, but no prior criminal record. She refused to drop two knives during a four-minute standoff with police.
• The New York Attorney General's Office of Special Investigations is reviewing the police shooting, as is standard protocol for law enforcement encounters resulting in death.

Background

Erin Piacenti was identified as a Bank of America vice president and 2016 University of Pennsylvania graduate who lived in Chester, New Jersey. She was killed in a random stabbing spree in Times Square on August 31, 2026, while returning to work after maternity leave. The attacker, Pamela Cisneros, was shot and killed by police after refusing to drop knives. Piacenti's death sparked public mourning and a fundraising effort for her infant daughter, Madison. Cisneros had a history of mental health issues but no prior arrests. The incident prompted an investigation by the New York Attorney General into the police response.

How outlets are covering it

The New York Post emphasizes the financial success of the GoFundMe campaign, noting over $500,000 raised from 5,000 donors, and highlights Piacenti's personal life, including her recent wedding anniversary and family road trip. NBC New York focuses on the timing of the attack, stressing that Piacenti was killed on her first day back from maternity leave, and details the sequence of events, including the 20-second gap between the two stabbings. FOX 5 New York centers on the family of the attacker, Pamela Cisneros, with her mother questioning why police did not physically restrain her and her brother stating she had never been violent. ABC7 New York provides a factual overview, including Piacenti's professional title and education, the condition of the second victim, and the NYPD's account of the standoff, noting Cisneros's refusal to drop the knives and the use of stun guns before firearms were deployed. All sources agree the attack was random and unprovoked, but they differ in emphasis: the Post on the fundraiser, NBC on the victim's personal circumstances, FOX on the attacker's family, and ABC on the police response and victim details.

Why it matters

The case highlights the ongoing challenges of mental health crises in public spaces and the public's response to random acts of violence. The substantial fundraising effort underscores community solidarity in the face of tragedy, while the Attorney General's investigation into the police shooting raises questions about the use of force in such encounters. The incident has also sparked broader discussions about mental health resources and the need for better support systems for individuals with mental health issues.

What to watch

The GoFundMe campaign will continue to support Madison Piacenti, the infant daughter of the victim. The New York Attorney General's Office of Special Investigations will review the police shooting, and body-worn camera footage is expected to be released to the public. The NYPD will continue its internal investigation into the incident. The second victim, a 68-year-old man from Rhode Island, is expected to survive his injuries. The case may also lead to further discussions about mental health services and public safety in New York City.