For Pamela Cisneros’ family, the Times Square tragedy left behind more than grief—it raised painful questions about how someone they believed had been doing better could suddenly become involved in such a shocking incident. Police said Pamela was confronted on August 31 after two people were attacked near Times Square, including 32-year-old Bank of America vice president Erin Piacenti, who later died, and a 68-year-old man who survived. Pamela was fatally shot by officers after police said she refused repeated commands to put down two knives and continued moving toward them after Tasers were deployed. Her brother, Patrick Peralta, said he first recognized Pamela from news footage and struggled to understand what he was seeing. For years, the family had known about her mental-health struggles, but Patrick said he believed she had been stable and doing well.

What made the situation even harder to understand was a change the family noticed shortly before the incident. Patrick said Pamela normally visited their mother and stepfather regularly, but she had stopped coming around during the week before the attack. The family tried calling her, and Pamela’s mother spoke with her just two days before the incident, when she reportedly said she was fine. Her father also said she had been receiving ongoing treatment. Patrick described the eventual change as feeling “like a switch,” saying he did not know what had happened in her mind. Pamela’s family has also questioned aspects of the police response, while the officers’ actions remain subject to investigation. Meanwhile, Erin’s loved ones are mourning a woman who was building her career, marriage and first home. For both families, the events have left lasting questions that may take time to understand.