The 49-year-old Queens woman who stabbed two people in Times Square was identified as Pamela Cisneros. Here’s what we know about her background, mental health, and the family she left behind.
Quick Answer
Pamela Cisneros was a 49-year-old woman from Queens, New York, who was fatally shot by police on August 31, 2026, after stabbing two people in Times Square. She was of Ecuadorian descent, making her Latin American in ethnicity. Her family confirmed she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had a history of mental health struggles spanning decades, including postpartum depression and a prior suicide attempt.
Who Was Pamela Cisneros?
Pamela Cisneros was identified by the NYPD as the suspect in a random double stabbing that occurred in Times Square on the afternoon of August 31, 2026. The attack claimed the life of 32-year-old Bank of America executive Erin Piacenti and left a 68-year-old man injured. Cisneros was shot and killed by police after she refused to drop her knives and charged at officers.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed that Cisneros had documented mental-health-related encounters with the NYPD in 2018 and 2019 but had no arrest history in New York City.
Pamela Cisneros’ Nationality and Ethnicity
Pamela Cisneros was of Latin American origin, specifically of Ecuadorian descent.
Her brother, Patrick Peralta, confirmed that their parents had migrated from Ecuador to the United States in the 1970s. Spanish-language media outlets also identified her as a woman of Latin American origin. While the surname “Cisneros” is of Hispanic origin, the family’s migration history confirms her Ecuadorian heritage.
Pamela Cisneros’ Family and Personal Background
Her Parents
Cisneros’ parents migrated from Ecuador in the 1970s. Her mother still lives in Jackson Heights, Queens, where the family grew up. She had been caring for her mother after she underwent three heart surgeries, and helped organize a birthday party for her stepfather on August 8, 2026.
Her stepfather is the one whose birthday the family celebrated on August 8, 2026. He is raising his own family in Queens, while Cisneros’ biological father is deceased.
Her Siblings
Cisneros was the youngest of six siblings. Her brother, Patrick Peralta, has been the primary family member speaking to the media. Peralta, a certified surgical technician, has a different father than Cisneros but the two grew up together in Jackson Heights. He described the family as “tight-knit”.
Her Children and Marriage
Cisneros had three daughters:
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Her youngest and eldest daughters live in Florida with their father and had been estranged from Cisneros for years due to her mental health issues.
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Her middle child is non-verbal with severe autism and resides in a care home in Brooklyn.
Cisneros had been going through a divorce for the past five to eight years, according to her brother. He was unsure whether it had been finalized.
Mental Health History
Cisneros struggled with mental health issues for decades:
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Postpartum Depression: Developed after the birth of her second child, which she struggled with for years.
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Bipolar Disorder: Diagnosed approximately 10 years before her death. She was receiving monthly injections as part of her treatment.
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Suicide Attempt (2019): She threw herself onto the subway tracks at Jamaica Station, but someone pulled her to safety.
Her brother noted that she had seemed “fine” for about six years prior to the attack and was taking her medication regularly. The only warning sign was that she had stopped visiting their mother’s house for dinner about a week before the incident—something she typically did every night.
“There was no sign something was wrong. Last week she stopped coming to see my mother. We called, she said she was fine on Saturday.” — Patrick Peralta, her brother
What Happened on August 31, 2026
Cisneros attacked two people in Times Square in a random, unprovoked spree:
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She stabbed a 68-year-old man in the abdomen as he exited a subway station with his wife
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About 20 seconds later, she stabbed 32-year-old Erin Piacenti
Officers confronted her on Seventh Avenue and gave her commands to drop her weapons for about four minutes. She reportedly told them: “I’m not dropping anything. I would rather kill both of you”. After Tasers failed to subdue her, two officers fatally shot her.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Pamela Cisneros?
Pamela Cisneros was a 49-year-old woman from Queens, New York, who stabbed two people in Times Square on August 31, 2026, and was fatally shot by police.
What was Pamela Cisneros’ ethnicity and nationality?
Pamela Cisneros was of Latin American origin, specifically Ecuadorian. Her parents migrated from Ecuador to the United States in the 1970s.
Did Pamela Cisneros have mental health issues?
Yes. Her family confirmed she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had a history of postpartum depression, hospitalizations, and a prior suicide attempt.
Who are Pamela Cisneros’ family members?
She was the youngest of six children and had a brother named Patrick Peralta. Her mother still lives in Queens, and her biological father is deceased. She had three daughters.
Why did Pamela Cisneros attack people in Times Square?
The attack was described as random and unprovoked. Her brother believes she may have stopped taking her medication, which caused a mental health crisis.
Conclusion
Pamela Cisneros was a 49-year-old woman of Ecuadorian descent who struggled with severe mental illness for much of her adult life. Her family describes a person who had been turning her life around with treatment, but who suffered a catastrophic breakdown that led to a deadly rampage in Times Square. As her brother Patrick Peralta said: “My entire family feels so sorry for the two people… We never thought this would happen”.