$577K Raised For Baby Of Woman Killed In Times Square Stabbing

MIDTOWN, NY — After a 32-year-old woman was stabbed to death in an unprovoked attack in Midtown on Monday, people have raised more than $500,000 for the victim's 5-month-old daughter.

On Monday, just after 4:15 p.m., Erin Piacenti, 32, was one of two people stabbed by a woman wielding two knives in a random attack at Times Square.

The perpetrator, Pamela Cisneros, 49, of Queens, who also hospitalized a 68-year-old man during the incident, was shot dead by NYPD police, officials said.

Piacenti was rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where she was pronounced dead that day.

"Erin's life was defined not by the circumstances of her death, but instead by the way she lived," Shray Gupta, who started the fundraiser, wrote. "Erin was deeply devoted to her family and friends, exceptionally bright and accomplished, and was someone who brought warmth and energy to the people around her."

Piacenti was a vice president at Bank of America, working as the Vice President of Business Selection and Conflicts. According to the GoFundMe, Monday was Erin's first day returning to work after her maternity leave.

Piacenti graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, where she studied political science and performed with an a cappella group, before beginning her career as a buyer at Bloomingdale’s. She later graduated from Fordham University School of Law and worked at Davis Polk before joining Bank of America.

The victim is survived by her husband Frank Piacenti, as well as her infant daughter Madison.

The couple celebrated their second wedding anniversary this summer and had just returned from a family road trip when she died.

The fundraiser, which was established to support Madison as she grows up, "offers the many people who loved Erin," a way to honor her by helping care for the daughter "she loved more than anything."

So far, the fundraiser has raised $577,000 with nearly 6,000 donations, with a goal of $750,000.

"To the people who knew and loved her, Erin was a thoughtful daughter and sister, a loyal friend, a devoted partner and companion in every aspect of Frank's life, and, most recently, an incredibly loving mother to Madison," Gupta wrote.

For questions, email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.