The family of Pamela Cisneros, the 49-year-old woman who was fatally shot by police after a stabbing attack in New York’s Times Square, has questioned whether officers could have handled the situation differently.
Cisneros allegedly attacked two people, Erin Piacenti, 32, and Tak Kam, 68, on Monday afternoon. Piacenti died in the attack, while Kam was seriously injured. Police later confronted Cisneros, who was reportedly holding a large knife in each hand and threatening officers.
According to reports, NYPD officers first attempted to stop her using Tasers. However, the devices were reportedly ineffective. Cisneros then moved towards the officers while still carrying the knives. Two officers subsequently opened fire. She was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Cisneros’ mother, who did not disclose her name, said she could not understand why police had to use deadly force. Speaking to Fox 5 News in Spanish, she questioned why the officers could not simply restrain her daughter, saying there were many officers at the scene.
The incident has also brought attention to Cisneros’ history of mental health problems. Her brother told the New York Post that she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had been receiving treatment for several years. He said she had not previously shown signs of violent behaviour.
Police had reportedly encountered Cisneros during two earlier incidents. In 2018, officers were called to a Manhattan hotel following reports of aggressive behaviour. A year later, in 2019, she reportedly jumped onto subway tracks in what appeared to be a suicide attempt.
Her personal life also faced difficulties during that period. Court records show that her husband filed for divorce in Florida in 2020. The divorce was finalised last year.
Cisneros was a mother of three children. Her father, Mario Cisneros, said he had seen his daughter during the week before the attack and believed she appeared to be doing well. He said she had been receiving monthly medication injections for her mental health condition.
Mario also recalled that his daughter’s mental health struggles became noticeable after the birth of one of her children. He believed she may have experienced postpartum depression.
The family said they remain unable to understand how the situation escalated so dramatically. Meanwhile, the police response is likely to remain a key part of the investigation into the Times Square stabbing.
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