Tragic Times Square Stabbing: The Story of Pamela Cisneros

The family of Pamela Cisneros, involved in a Times Square stabbing, struggled to understand the sudden violent event. Cisneros, aged 49, fatally stabbed a stranger and was later shot by NYPD officers. Her brother, Patrick Peralta, recalled a long history of mental illness. Before this incident, she had never harmed others, only herself.

Peralta described his sister’s childhood as happy and close to him. Her mental health issues became apparent about two decades ago after the birth of her second child. Her struggles included postpartum depression and multiple hospitalizations. Peralta mentioned that postpartum depression received public attention due to the ongoing Massachusetts trial of Lindsey Clancy, accused of killing her children during postpartum psychosis.

Cisneros kept contact with her children despite their separation. Her middle child, autistic and nonverbal, resides in a Brooklyn group home. Her other two daughters live in Florida with their father. Peralta had to inform them about their mother’s fate over the phone.

Cisneros had been hospitalized several times, including an incident where she was rescued from subway tracks after a suicide attempt. She received monthly psychiatric medication injections, which Peralta believed kept her stable. Recently, she began administering these injections herself, leading to concerns about missed treatments.

On Monday, Cisneros attacked strangers in Times Square with kitchen knives. She first injured a 68-year-old man, who survived, then fatally wounded 32-year-old Erin Piacenti, a Bank of America vice president. Police confronted Cisneros, who refused to drop the knives, resulting in her being shot.

Peralta expressed remorse for the victims. He last saw his sister at their father’s birthday celebration and recounted her as appearing fine. Her mother last spoke to Cisneros on the phone, and the family noticed changes leading up to the tragedy, such as missing family dinners.

Cisneros was recently employed as an administrative assistant after a period of unemployment. Her family remains troubled by the event and extends their condolences to the victims’ families.