Bank of America’s Vice President (VP) Erin Piacenti was killed after a woman stabbed her in New York’s Times Square, with police saying the attack appeared to be random and unprovoked.

Piacenti, who worked as a VP of business selection and conflicts at the bank, suffered stab wounds to her abdomen and later died at a hospital from her injuries.

Bank of America expressed shock over the loss of its employee. “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 US banking giant said in an emailed statement to Reuters.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said during a press briefing on Monday that a woman carrying multiple knives had stabbed two people in Times Square before police used a Taser and fired their weapons.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said that the woman, identified as 49-year-old Queens resident Pamela Cisneros, appeared to have attacked the victims without provocation. Police said that they did not believe the incident was terror-related.

According to Tisch, Cisneros pulled two large knives from a bag bearing the logo of a well-known supermarket chain before threatening people passing through Times Square in broad daylight.

She then approached an older man and stabbed him in the abdomen. About 20 seconds later, she attacked Piacenti, 32, stabbing her in the abdomen.

Police officers intervened after the attacks and attempted to persuade Cisneros to drop the knives. Tisch said that officers spoke to her for four minutes and gave her numerous commands to put down the weapons, but she refused.

“During the encounter, she told the officers, ‘I’m not dropping anything. I would rather kill both of you’,” Tisch said.

Police confirmed that officers unsuccessfully used a stun gun before firing their handguns. According to reports, Cisneros was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Tisch said that officers opened fire after the Taser failed to stop Cisneros from advancing towards them with knives. “This was an extraordinarily dangerous situation unfolding in the heart of Times Square, the crossroads of the world.”