Erin Piacenti, Bank of America vice-president, was killed in a stabbing that occurred late Monday afternoon in Times Square, New York City.
The suspect, a woman wielding knives, stabbed another 68-year-old man who police said is hospitalised and in stable condition.
Piacenti’s identity was confirmed on Tuesday.
Jessica Tisch, New York police department (NYPD) commissioner, described the attack as “unprovoked” and said the stabbings took place 20 seconds apart.
“A witness at the scene told investigators that he observed the subject remove two knives from a red Target bag before approaching the first victim,” Tisch said at a press conference.
“The subject waved the knives before stabbing a 68-year-old man in the right side of his abdomen, in what appears to be a random and unprovoked attack.”
The suspect, identified as 49-year-old Pamela Cisneros, was said to have continued along Seventh Avenue towards 42nd Street, where she stabbed Piacenti, 32, who later died in the hospital.
Police officers later shot the assailant after she refused to drop her weapons and charged towards them. She was subsequently pronounced dead at the hospital.
Bank of America said it was shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic loss, noting that Piacenti was a valued teammate who will be greatly missed.
