Erin Guiltinan Piacenti, a 32-year-old Bank of America vice president from Chester, New Jersey, was laid to rest Wednesday after being fatally stabbed in New York City’s Times Square. Hundreds of mourners attended a wake and funeral services at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mendham Borough over two days. Police say the attack was random and unprovoked, and that another man was stabbed moments before Piacenti. A fundraising campaign for her 6-month-old daughter, Madison, had collected nearly $1 million as of Tuesday.
| 1) | Piacenti’s funeral draws hundreds |
| 2) | Her family and professional life |
| 3) | The Aug. 31 Times Square attack |
| 4) | Police confrontation and investigation |
| 5) | Support for her daughter Madison |
Piacenti’s funeral draws hundreds
A wake for Piacenti was held Tuesday evening at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mendham Borough, where mourners arrived in small groups between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. The church parking lot remained full for much of the evening, while local police coordinated traffic around the gathering. A funeral Mass was held at the same church at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9.
The services brought together relatives, friends, colleagues and other community members to honor Piacenti, who was killed while returning to work after maternity leave. Her family asked those wishing to pay tribute to contribute to a fundraiser for her daughter instead of sending flowers.
Her family and professional life
Piacenti was the oldest of five siblings and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and Fordham University School of Law, according to her family’s death announcement. At Pennsylvania, she served as music director of the Dischord A Cappella group, where she developed a lasting connection to music and campus life.
She met her husband, Frank Piacenti, at law school, and the couple married in 2024. Their daughter, Madison, was born in March. Piacenti began her legal career at the Manhattan-based firm Davis Polk & Wardwell before becoming a vice president at Bank of America. She and her husband had returned from a vacation marking their second wedding anniversary one day before the killing.
The Aug. 31 Times Square attack
The stabbing occurred shortly before 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 31 on Seventh Avenue in Times Square. According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Piacenti was stabbed in the abdomen and later died from her injuries. The attack occurred on her first day back at work after maternity leave.
Police said a 68-year-old man waiting at a crosswalk with his wife was stabbed about 20 seconds before Piacenti. The man survived and was hospitalized in stable condition, according to Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Officials described both attacks as random and unprovoked.
Police confrontation and investigation
Authorities identified the suspect as Pamela Cisneros, a 49-year-old Queens resident. After the stabbings, police encountered her holding two kitchen knives. Officers repeatedly ordered her to drop the weapons, but officials said she refused and threatened them.
“I’m not dropping anything,” Cisneros said, according to Commissioner Tisch. “I would rather kill both of you. I will kill you.”
Officers attempted to stop Cisneros with stun guns, but they were unsuccessful. As she moved toward officers while waving the knives, police opened fire. Cisneros was pronounced dead at Bellevue Hospital. The confrontation led to road closures on Seventh Avenue between 42nd and 47th streets.
Commissioner Tisch said Cisneros had a documented history of mental health issues and had interacted with the NYPD in 2018 and 2019, but had no prior arrests. Mayor Mamdani said a routine investigation into the officers’ conduct would be conducted, and the city planned to release body-camera footage.
Support for her daughter Madison
A GoFundMe campaign established for Madison had raised nearly $1 million as of Tuesday. The donations are intended to support the infant following the death of her mother. The family directed people seeking to honor Piacenti toward the campaign rather than floral tributes.
The fundraising effort has accompanied the public mourning in New Jersey, where family and friends gathered for the wake and funeral. Piacenti’s death left her husband and young daughter at the center of tributes following a killing officials described as senseless violence.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Erin Piacenti was fatally stabbed in Times Square on Aug. 31. |
| 2 | Hundreds attended her wake and funeral in Mendham Borough, New Jersey. |
| 3 | Police described the stabbing as random and unprovoked. |
| 4 | A second victim survived, while the suspect died after an armed confrontation with police. |
| 5 | A fundraiser for Piacenti’s 6-month-old daughter had raised nearly $1 million. |
Summary
Piacenti’s funeral brought widespread mourning after her death in an apparently unprovoked Times Square stabbing on her first day back from maternity leave. The case also prompted an investigation into the police shooting of the suspect and renewed attention to Piacenti’s family, particularly her infant daughter. Her relatives have asked supporters to contribute to Madison’s care through the established fundraiser.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Erin Piacenti?
Piacenti was a 32-year-old Bank of America vice president from Chester, New Jersey. She was married to Frank Piacenti and had a 6-month-old daughter, Madison.
When and where was she killed?
She was stabbed shortly before 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 31 in Times Square on Seventh Avenue in New York City.
What happened to the suspect?
Police said Pamela Cisneros confronted officers while holding two knives after the stabbings. Officers opened fire after stun guns failed to stop her, and she was pronounced dead at Bellevue Hospital.
How is Piacenti’s daughter being supported?
A GoFundMe campaign for Madison had raised nearly $1 million as of Tuesday. Piacenti’s family asked supporters to donate to the campaign in lieu of flowers.