For Pamela Cisneros’ family, the Times Square tragedy brought more than shock—it left them trying to understand how someone they believed had been stable could suddenly become involved in such a devastating incident. On August 31, 2026, police said Pamela attacked two strangers near Seventh Avenue and West 42nd Street. Erin Piacenti, a 32-year-old Bank of America vice president, later died, while a 68-year-old man survived. Pamela was confronted by officers shortly afterward and died during the police response. Her relatives said they knew about her long history of mental-health struggles, but they believed she had been doing much better in recent years. Her brother Patrick Peralta said she had received ongoing treatment and had never been aggressive toward others in the way described by authorities. She lived in Queens, worked periodically with an immigration attorney, and regularly visited her mother and stepfather for meals.

What troubled the family most was how quickly everything seemed to change. Patrick said Pamela had stopped visiting their mother during the week before the incident, something he found unusual because she normally came by often. Her mother eventually spoke with her by phone on Saturday, just two days before the Times Square incident, and was told Pamela was fine. That conversation became especially difficult to remember after what happened. Pamela’s father also said he knew she was receiving treatment but could not understand what had led to such a dramatic change. Police said the confrontation is under investigation, while the family continues to search for answers. For them, the tragedy is a painful reminder that even when someone appears to be doing well, loved ones may not always know what is happening beneath the surface.