A 32-year-old
The attack occurred in one of the city's most heavily policed districts, situated near a police station and the site of the annual New Year’s Eve celebrations. According to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the assailant, identified as 49-year-old
Details of the Incident and Suspect
Police reported that officers engaged with the suspect for several minutes, attempting to persuade her to surrender the weapons. Commissioner Tisch stated that the suspect refused to comply, telling officers she would rather kill them than drop the knives. After a stun gun failed to subdue her, two officers opened fire, killing the suspect at the scene.
Cisneros, a divorced mother of three, had no prior arrest record in New York City, though Commissioner Tisch noted she had previous encounters with law enforcement related to mental health in 2018 and 2019. The suspect’s brother, Patrick Peralta, told local media that she had struggled with psychiatric issues for decades but had been managing her condition with medication in recent years. He expressed confusion and sorrow regarding the event, stating that the family had no explanation for her actions.
Victim Remembered
Erin Piacenti was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and held a law degree from Fordham Law School. She served as a vice president in the business selection and conflicts unit at Bank of America. In a statement, the bank expressed its shock and sadness over the loss of their colleague.
Piacenti’s personal life had been a focus of her recent social media activity, where she shared images of her infant daughter and celebrated her second wedding anniversary. Her grandmother described her as a beautiful person, while Fordham Law School issued a statement expressing that they were heartbroken by the news of her death. The condition of the 68-year-old man who was also stabbed during the encounter remains unconfirmed.
