A violent afternoon incident in New York City resulted in the death of 32-year-old Erin Piacenti, a Vice President of Business Selection and Conflicts at Bank of America. Piacenti was stabbed during a sudden random attack while walking near Times Square on Monday afternoon.
Sudden street violence
The assault happened around 4:30 p.m. near West 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue, close to an NYPD substation. According to authorities, a 49-year-old woman pulled two knives out of a shopping bag and began attacking bystanders.
Piacenti suffered severe stab wounds to her abdomen and was rushed to a nearby hospital where she later passed away. A 68-year-old man was also wounded during the attack but survived. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the violent event as “random and unprovoked.”
Police confront assailant
Officers stationed in the high-traffic area quickly intervened. Police engaged the armed suspect for several minutes, repeatedly ordering her to drop the weapons.
After a Taser failed to stop her as she moved toward officers while brandishing knives, police opened fire. The suspect was shot and later declared dead at the hospital.
Tributes for executive
Following the tragic news, Bank of America released an official statement honoring their employee, expressing that:
“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.”
Investigations into the motive behind the attack remain ongoing.
