Newly released NYPD body camera footage shows officers spending about four minutes trying to de-escalate a standoff with a woman accused of fatally stabbing a New Jersey mother in Times Square. Pamela Cisneros was holding two knives outside One Times Square on Aug. 31, 2026, when officers repeatedly ordered her to drop the weapons. Police said she advanced toward them after Tasers failed to stop her, prompting officers to open fire.
The confrontation followed two separate stabbing attacks near West 41st Street and Seventh Avenue and West 42nd Street in Manhattan. The first victim, a 68-year-old man, survived a serious abdominal wound. The second victim, 32-year-old Bank of America executive Erin Piacenti, died from her injuries.
Authorities have described the attacks as random and unprovoked. The NYPD said Cisneros had documented mental health-related encounters with the department in 2018 and 2019, but no prior arrest record.
| 1) | Bodycam records the Times Square standoff |
| 2) | Officers attempt to de-escalate the encounter |
| 3) | Police open fire after the suspect advances |
| 4) | The stabbing victims and investigation |
| 5) | What happens next in the use-of-force review |
Bodycam records the Times Square standoff
The footage released by the NYPD shows officers confronting Pamela Cisneros outside One Times Square in Manhattan on Aug. 31, shortly after authorities said she stabbed two people. Transit officers encountered her about a minute after the second attack, with a knife in each hand. Additional NYPD officers arrived as the standoff continued.
Cisneros repeatedly refused commands to surrender. She told officers she was “tired of this world” and indicated that they would have to kill her. The video captures officers maintaining distance while attempting to keep the situation from escalating in a crowded part of Manhattan.
Officers attempt to de-escalate the encounter
For roughly four minutes, officers tried to establish communication with Cisneros and persuade her to put down the knives. They repeatedly told her they wanted to help and instructed her to “just breathe.” One officer asked whether she believed in God, and Cisneros replied, “No. Not anymore.”
“There’s a lot to live for. The world is hard. Especially New York City. Trust me, we all suffer. But this is not the way.”
The encounter became more threatening when Cisneros said, “You’re going to have to kill me,” followed by a statement that she might kill the officers. Police continued ordering her to drop the knives as she waved both weapons.
Police open fire after the suspect advances
At about 4:29 p.m., officers deployed Tasers after Cisneros began waving the knives. Police said the devices did not stop her. When she advanced toward the officers with the blades pointed at them, officers fired their weapons and struck her.
Cisneros was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Police recovered both knives at the scene. The released footage documents the sequence of commands, attempted less-lethal intervention and gunfire that followed the reported advance.
The stabbing victims and investigation
Authorities said the incident began near West 41st Street and Seventh Avenue, where Cisneros allegedly stabbed a 68-year-old man in the abdomen. He survived the attack. She then walked north carrying a knife in each hand and allegedly stabbed Erin Piacenti near West 42nd Street about 20 seconds later.
Erin Piacenti, a Bank of America vice president and Fordham Law graduate, had returned to work only days earlier after five months of maternity leave caring for her newborn daughter. She died from her injuries. Police have said the attacks appeared random and unprovoked, and found no indication that they were terrorism-related.
What happens next in the use-of-force review
The NYPD’s Force Investigation Division is continuing to examine the shooting. The case is expected to be presented to the department’s Use of Force Review Board, which will assess the circumstances surrounding the officers’ actions.
The department has also disclosed that Cisneros had documented mental health-related encounters with police in 2018 and 2019. Authorities said she did not have a prior arrest record. The investigation will consider the bodycam evidence, witness accounts, recovered weapons and the officers’ efforts to resolve the standoff before gunfire.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Officers spent about four minutes attempting to de-escalate the standoff. |
| 2 | Cisneros was holding two knives outside One Times Square. |
| 3 | A 68-year-old man survived, while Erin Piacenti died. |
| 4 | Police said Tasers failed before Cisneros advanced toward officers. |
| 5 | The NYPD Force Investigation Division is reviewing the shooting. |
Summary
The bodycam footage provides a detailed record of the NYPD’s response after two alleged stabbings in Times Square. Officers tried verbal commands and Tasers before shooting Cisneros when police said she advanced with two knives. The fatal stabbing of Erin Piacenti and the shooting remain under separate investigative review, with the NYPD’s Force Investigation Division preparing the case for the Use of Force Review Board.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the standoff take place?
The standoff took place on Aug. 31, 2026, outside One Times Square in Manhattan.
Who was killed in the stabbing attack?
Erin Piacenti, a 32-year-old Bank of America vice president from Chester, New Jersey, died from her injuries.
Why did police shoot Cisneros?
Police said Cisneros advanced toward officers with two knives after Tasers failed to stop her, prompting officers to open fire.
What is the status of the investigation?
The NYPD’s Force Investigation Division is investigating the shooting before the case is presented to the department’s Use of Force Review Board.
