A Bank of America executive was fatally stabbed in broad daylight near Times Square, bringing part of one of Manhattan’s busiest districts to a halt as emergency crews rushed to the scene.
The victim, identified as 32-year-old Erin Piacenti, was killed in the Monday afternoon attack in Midtown Manhattan. Another person was also struck before police confronted the suspect.
Police tape and barricades marked off part of Times Square after the Monday afternoon stabbing disrupted the busy Midtown district. The scene remained under investigation after two people were stabbed, including 32-year-old Erin Piacenti. | Source: Getty Images
Bank of America (BofA) confirmed the death of an employee, while an internal memo identified the victim as Piacenti, according to Reuters. The New York City Police Department (NYPD) also confirmed her identity.
Emergency vehicles swarmed the area after the stabbing, disrupting streets in the heart of the city’s tourist district.
What Erin Piacenti Was Doing Moments Before the Attack
Piacenti was walking along Seventh Avenue near 42nd Street at about 4:30 p.m. when a 49-year-old woman carrying two large knives stabbed her in the stomach, Fox 5 reported.
The woman also struck a 68-year-old man before officers confronted her and repeatedly ordered her to drop the knives.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch later described the incident as a “random and unprovoked attack,” according to CBS News. “At this point in the investigation, we have no reason to believe this incident was an attack of terrorism,” Tisch said.
