Times Square stabbing suspect had bipolar disorder, was estranged from daughters for years

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: The woman who was fatally shot by police after a deadly stabbing in Times Square had spent years dealing with family struggles, a difficult divorce and mental-health issues, according to her brother.

Pamela Cisneros Lopez, 49, allegedly stabbed two people in the heart of New York City at around 4.30 pm on Monday, September 1, killing Bank of America executive Erin Piacenti, 32, and injuring a 68-year-old man.

Lopez’s brother, Patrick Peralta, 58, said Tuesday, September 1, that his sister had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder about 10 years ago after struggling with postpartum depression following the birth of her second child. He said she had also been estranged from two of her three daughters for years.

The video below shows the aftermath of a stabbing in Times Square, where a woman attacked two people before police shot and killed her.

Pamela Cisneros Lopez’s family struggles

Peralta spoke at the family’s home in Jackson Heights, Queens, where relatives had gathered following the shocking attack. He described Lopez as the youngest of six siblings in a close-knit family whose parents had moved from Ecuador to the US in the 1970s.

Lopez worked in human resources and was a daily churchgoer, according to her brother.

She had three daughters, ranging from their late teens to late twenties.

Peralta said her eldest and youngest daughters had been living in Florida with their father and had been estranged from Lopez for years because of her previous mental-health struggles.

Her middle daughter is non-verbal and has severe autism, and lives at a care home in Brooklyn.

Peralta said Lopez had struggled with postpartum depression after the birth of her second child and had tried for years to raise her children before eventually finding it difficult to cope.

“I think she felt like she hadn't accomplished anything with her life because she was at home with the kids,” Peralta told the Daily Mail.

Lopez was also reportedly going through a divorce that had lasted between five and eight years. Peralta said he was not sure whether the divorce had been finalized. “There was a lot of back and forth” with her ex-husband, he said.

Pamela Cisneros Lopez appeared to be doing better

Despite the difficulties, Peralta said Lopez had appeared to turn her life around in recent years while taking medication for bipolar disorder.

He said she had seemed “fine” for about six years and was actively involved with their family.

Lopez had been caring for her mother following three heart surgeries, according to Peralta. She also organized a large family gathering for her father’s birthday on August 8, which was the last time he saw his sister.

“She seemed good, she seemed fine,” Peralta said.

He said the family did notice one unusual change shortly before the stabbing. Lopez lived alone in Woodside and usually had dinner at her mother’s home every night, but she had not visited for about a week.

She was also supposed to be at work on the day of the attack, according to her brother.

Peralta said he recognized Lopez in news footage showing the Times Square incident and contacted police. “It was the worst thing I have ever watched,” he said. “I had a premonition that it was her and called the police.”

Peralta said he was struggling to understand what had happened. “I don't know what was going through her head, but I think she wanted to get shot,” he said. “I don't know where the rage came from. I was in shock because she was never violent. I'm still numb.”

He also said Lopez had been receiving regular medication, adding, “She was taking medication - she gave herself injections every month. Maybe she didn't take the last one and started going off track after that.”

Erin Piacenti killed in Times Square attack

The attack left Erin Piacenti dead and a 68-year-old man hospitalized.

Piacenti, 32, was a vice president in Bank of America’s business selection and conflicts unit, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Social media posts indicated that she had recently marked her second wedding anniversary after marrying her husband, Frank, in August 2024.

Bank of America said it was “shocked and deeply saddened” by her death.

“She was a valued teammate who will be greatly missed. Our hearts go out to her family and all of her loved ones,” the company said.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Monday that a woman carrying multiple knives had attacked two people in Times Square before NYPD officers used a Taser and then fired their weapons.

“I want to thank the NYPD officers who stepped in and prevented a horrific attack from becoming even worse,” Mamdani said.

For Lopez’s family, the incident has left them devastated. Peralta said they were deeply sorry to the victims and their families.

“My entire family is so sorry for the two victims,” he said. “We never wish hurt on anybody and we are so, so sorry that happened to them.”