The family of Erin Piacenti, a 32-year-old Bank of America vice president who was fatally stabbed in a random attack near Times Square, has released a moving statement describing their profound grief and celebrating the life she built with her husband and infant daughter. Relatives said they remain devastated by the sudden loss and asked the public for privacy as they mourn.

Piacenti was killed on the afternoon of August 31, 2026, during her first day back at work after maternity leave. She had given birth to her daughter, Madison, only five months earlier. In a statement published on a GoFundMe page created to support the child’s future, the family wrote that becoming a mother had been Erin’s lifelong ambition and that Madison had brought her the greatest possible joy. They emphasized that her life should be remembered for how she lived it, not for the circumstances of her death.

“Erin was deeply devoted to her family and friends, exceptionally bright and accomplished, and was someone who brought warmth and energy to the people around her,” the statement said. It described her as a thoughtful daughter and sister, a loyal friend, a devoted partner to her husband Frank in every aspect of his life, and most recently an incredibly loving mother. The couple had celebrated their second wedding anniversary in the summer of 2026, had recently returned from a family road trip, and were preparing to build a life together with their new daughter. That future, the family said, changed incomprehensibly in an instant.

Erin Guiltinan (her maiden name) met Frank Piacenti while both attended Fordham University School of Law. She had earlier graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. The couple married in August 2024 and later purchased a four-bedroom home in Chester, New Jersey. Neighbors and local business owners recalled seeing them together preparing the house, including shopping for paint shortly before the tragedy.

Professionally, Piacenti had worked at Bank of America for approximately 18 months as a vice president on the business-selection-and-conflicts team. Colleagues described her as sharp, warm, and highly valued. The bank issued a public statement expressing shock and deep sadness at the loss of a teammate who would be greatly missed, and an internal message to staff underscored the impact of her death on those who worked closely with her.

According to police, the attack occurred around 4:24 p.m. near West 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue. Pamela Cisneros, 49, a woman with a documented history of mental illness, first stabbed a 68-year-old man, Tak Kam, after he exited the subway. She then approached Piacenti and stabbed her in an apparently unprovoked ᴀssault. Officers confronted Cisneros, who refused to drop the knives she was holding. After attempts to stop her with a Taser failed, police sH๏τ and killed her as she charged toward them. Authorities described both stabbings as random.

In the days that followed, the family’s GoFundMe campaign raised more than $180,000 toward a $250,000 goal intended to help secure Madison’s future. Co-workers at Bank of America’s offices near Bryant Park spoke of a heavy atmosphere of grief. Residents of Chester and visitors to the area expressed shock that such violence could strike so suddenly in one of New York’s busiest districts.

The family continues to ask for privacy while they process the loss of a woman they remember as bright, loving, and full of promise.

Sources: New York Post