Bank of America Executive Identified as Victim of Stabbing in Times Square
By Guardian staff and agencies
Erin Piacenti, a 32-year-old vice-president at the bank, was killed in Tuesday stabbing in New York City, officials say.
A corporate vice-president at Bank of America was killed in a stabbing in New York City’s Times Square, the second-biggest US lending bank said on Tuesday about a random incident that took place in broad daylight in the bustling heart of Manhattan.
The incident had brought the streets of the crowded area to a halt on Monday as emergency vehicles swarmed between the skyscrapers.
The deceased was Erin Piacenti, 32, according to the New York City police department (NYPD). Bank of America confirmed the loss of a staff member. Piacenti was a vice-president in the bank’s business selection and conflicts unit, according to her LinkedIn profile.
“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 US banking company said in a statement on Tuesday. Bank of America’s Manhattan office is located a stone’s throw from Times Square, at One Bryant Park.
Piacenti had earned a law degree from Fordham Law School, graduating in 2021 alongside her husband, Frank, according to the school. Fordham Law said in a statement it was heartbroken by her death.
An unnamed 68-year-old man also suffered stab wounds in the attack and was in stable condition, the NYPD said in a statement.
Jessica Tisch, the NYPD’s commissioner, said Monday afternoon’s attack near West 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue, appeared to be random and unprovoked.
The NYPD said when officers arrived on the scene they found Pamela Cisneros, a 49-year-old woman, who was brandishing two large knives and advanced toward officers, who used a stun gun but were unable to persuade her to drop the weapons. Officers shot Cisneros and she was later pronounced dead. Tisch said Cisneros had a documented mental health history.
Matthew Koder, Bank of America’s president of global corporate and investment banking, described Piacenti as a “cherished teammate and friend” in an internal memo seen by Reuters.
“Erin was a valued member of the Business Selection and Conflicts team, having joined the bank 18 months ago,” Koder wrote. “Her loss is being felt deeply by many.”
Koder said that Bank of America’s security teams were “fully engaged in supporting the police investigation here, and in addressing the ongoing safety and security of our offices and teammates”.
