Erin Piacenti, 32, died following an unprovoked attack in Midtown Manhattan on Monday, police said.
NEW YORK—Erin Piacenti, a 32-year-old Bank of America vice president, was killed Monday in a Times Square stabbing that left another person injured.
“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 Charlotte, North Carolina-based bank said in a statement to Global Finance on Tuesday.
The alleged perpetrator reportedly charged at NYPD officers and was fatally shot moments later. A second victim remains hospitalized but in stable condition.
Bank of America
Piacenti began her career as a legal intern with Major League Baseball before taking M&A roles at Morgan Stanley and law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell, respectively. She joined Bank of America’s business selection and conflicts unit in 2025, per her LinkedIn profile.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani addressed the incident during a press briefing Monday: “I want to thank the NYPD officers who stepped in and prevented a horrific attack from becoming even worse. This is what the men and women of this department do every single day to keep our city safe.”
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that the unprovoked attack began near West 41st Street and 7th Avenue when a woman pulled two knives from a Target bag. Responding NYPD officers first deployed a Taser and fired their weapons at the alleged perpetrator, fatally wounding the alleged attacker.
Both victims and the suspect were transported to Bellevue Hospital.
Piacenti is reportedly from Chester, New Jersey.
Mamdani, NYPD News Conference
Though violent crime is at historically low levels in New York City, another fatal stabbing occurred around the same area back in May.
Monday’s attack is the latest high-profile attack involving financial executives and corporate leaders in Midtown Manhattan over the past two years.
In July 2025, Blackstone Inc. executive Wesley LePatner was among four people killed in a shooting at the firm’s office on Park Avenue.
Before that, in December 2024, UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed outside the New York Hilton Midtown.
Anthony Noto covers corporate finance and private credit. Contact him at anoto@gfmag.com
