Independent reference
Erin Piacenti
Career, education and verified information about the 2026 Times Square stabbing.
Last updated:
View the latest confirmed timelineAt a glance
Verified facts
Overview
Who was Erin Piacenti?
Erin Piacenti was a 32-year-old Bank of America employee with a legal education. Bank of America confirmed her employment after her death and described her as a valued colleague, according to the Associated Press.[1]
AP reported that Piacenti earned a law degree from Fordham University School of Law in 2021. NBC New York reported that she completed her undergraduate education at the University of Pennsylvania.[1][3]
Her name entered national news after police identified her as the woman killed in a stabbing in Times Square on August 31, 2026. This site limits its biographical coverage to facts relevant to reliable public reporting and does not compile private family, contact or financial information.
The August 31 attack
What happened in Times Square?
Shortly before 4:30 p.m., police said a woman with two knives stabbed a 68-year-old man and then Piacenti near Seventh Avenue and West 42nd Street. Both were taken to a hospital. Piacenti died; the man was initially reported in stable condition.[2]
Officers confronted the woman near the Times Square police substation. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said officers tried to persuade her to put down the knives, then used a stun gun. Police said two officers shot her after she continued toward them while holding the knives. She also died.[2]
Authorities described the stabbings as random and said there was no evidence of a terrorist attack. Those conclusions remain attributed to police while the investigation continues.[2]
Read the sourced accountConfirmed sequence
Timeline
The Times Square attack occurred shortly before 4:30 p.m.
Police publicly identified Piacenti; Bank of America confirmed her employment.
This reference was published using the confirmed reporting available at the time.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Who was Erin Piacenti?
She was a 32-year-old Bank of America employee from New Jersey with a law degree from Fordham Law.
Where did Erin Piacenti work?
Bank of America confirmed that Piacenti worked for the company. Reliable reports described her as a vice president, though AP said the bank did not immediately provide details of her work.
Was Erin Piacenti a lawyer?
She earned a law degree from Fordham Law in 2021. A law degree alone does not establish current admission to a state bar, so this site does not make a broader licensure claim without an authoritative record.
Where did Erin Piacenti study?
NBC New York reported that she attended the University of Pennsylvania before earning her law degree from Fordham Law in 2021.
What happened to Erin Piacenti?
She was killed in a stabbing in Times Square on August 31, 2026. Police described the attack as random and unprovoked.
Sources
Links below identify the reporting used to support factual statements on this page. Police conclusions remain attributed to police.
- Associated PressWoman killed in Times Square stabbing worked for Bank of AmericaPublished September 1, 2026.AP later corrected the spelling of Piacenti’s surname in this report.
- Associated PressWoman randomly stabs 2 people in New York City’s Times Square, killing 1, then is killed by policePublished August 31, 2026.
- NBC New YorkWoman killed in Times Square stabbing spree identified as 32-year-old from New JerseyPublished September 1, 2026.
- Spectrum News NY1Police identify woman who died in Times Square stabbing as 32-year-old from New JerseyPublished September 1, 2026.