Bank of America VP among two killed in Times Square stabbing

Police kill attacker after four-minute standoff, say assault wasn't terror-related

A Bank of America,vice president, Erin Piacenti, was killed in ​a stabbing at Times Square on ‌Monday.

"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 U.S. banking giant ​said in an emailed statement to Reuters.

Piacenti — a vice president of business selection and conflicts at ​the bank — died at the hospital ​from the stabbing injuries, according to a Bloomberg ‌News ⁠report, which first reported the news.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on Monday in a press briefing that a ​woman carrying ​multiple knives ⁠stabbed two people in Times Square before police used a ​Taser and fired their weapons.

NYPD ​Commissioner ⁠Jessica Tisch added the attacks appeared random and unprovoked, and that officers fired after ⁠Tasers ​failed to stop the ​woman from advancing toward them with knives.

Earlier, a knife-wielding woman stabbed and killed a person and injured another in New York's tourist-filled Times Square on Monday, before she was shot and killed by police.

The attacker, identified as 49-year-old Queens resident Pamela Cisneros, who was known to have mental health issues, pulled two large knives from a bag bearing the logo of a well-known supermarket chain before threatening passersby in broad daylight, New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.

She then approached an old man and stabbed him in the abdomen. 20 seconds later, she attacked a 32-year-old  Erin Plecenti, also stabbing her in the abdomen - wounds from which she later died.

The victims' identities are not being released pending notification of their families.

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Police quickly intervened and tried to persuade Cisneros to drop her weapons. "The officers engaged the woman in dialogue for four minutes and gave her numerous commands to drop the knives, which she refused," Tisch said.

"During the encounter, she told the officers, 'I'm not dropping anything. I would rather kill both of you,'" Tisch added.

One witness told local TV outlet PIX11 that the suspect had two knives in her hands and was tased by police before she rushed at officers. "They shot her twice," said the unnamed witness.

Police confirmed that they had unsuccessfully used a stun gun before firing their handguns.

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Local news reports said the suspect was prounounced dead at hospital.

Tisch said that they do not believe the attack was terror-related. "This was an extraordinarily dangerous situation unfolding in the heart of Times Square, the crossroads of the world," the police chief said.

"At any given moment, there are 1000s of New Yorkers, commuters, tourists, families, workers moving through these streets."

An AFP journalist at the scene saw a large emergency services presence and officials inspecting a patch of blood in Times Square.