Maniac is charged with murder for ‘stabbing to death hero EMT on Queens street in broad daylight’
>
A man with a history of schizophrenia has been charged with the fatal stabbing of hero EMT Alison Russo-Elling after he knocked her off her feet and used a steak knife to kill her on Thursday.
Peter Zisopoulos, 34, was charged with the “barbaric and completely unprovoked” death of Russo-Elling, 61, a nearly 25-year veteran of the New York Fire Department.
Zisopoulos was charged with murder and weapons possession for the attack that took place in broad daylight on a street in Astoria, Queens, on Thursday afternoon.
This is reportedly his first arrest. He interacted with police in 2018 when he was accused of making threats against Asians.
The incident resulted in his hospitalization, but an arrest was never made.
He was arrested Thursday outside an apartment on 20th Ave. and 41st St. in Queens. The three-story apartment building is also known to house New York’s only swingers club.
Zisopoulos initially locked himself in his apartment, but surrendered to the police about an hour later.
Peter Zisopoulus, 34, was walked by an assailant on Friday after killing an on-duty EMT on Thursday
Both his hands and feet were handcuffed as he was led by two law enforcement officers after he was charged
ZIsopoulos reportedly locked himself in his apartment for an hour on Thursday before surrendering to officers in the hours after mercilessly stabbing Alison Russo-Elling to death
Peter Zisopoulos, 34, was charged with the ‘barbaric and completely unprovoked’ death of Russo-Elling, an EMT
Zisopoulos was charged with murder and weapons possession for the attack that took place in broad daylight on a street in Astoria, Queens, on Thursday afternoon.
Emergency Medical Service Lieutenant and World Trade Center First Responder Alison Russo-Elling (pictured), 61, died after being stabbed while on duty in Queens
GRAPHIC WARNING: Zisopoulos can be seen on a surveillance camera stabbing Russo-Elling in Queens Thursday afternoon
Russo-Elling’s body was escorted to the coroner’s office at Mount Sinai Hospital Queens in the presence of other NYC first responders
Russo-Elling was on his way to get food when Zisopoulous allegedly approached her and stabbed her in what authorities say was a random and completely unprovoked attack
EMTs and NYFD gather at the station building to watch the Purple and Black Bunting for Lt. Alison Russo-Elling, where she worked in Astoria, Queens on September 30, 2022
NYC emergency responders salute Lieutenant Alison Russo-Elling, who was senselessly murdered this week
EMTs and NYFD gather at the station building to mourn Alison Russo-Elling, who was murdered Thursday
Russo-Elling was on his way to get food when Zisopoulous allegedly approached her and stabbed her in what authorities say was an indiscriminate and completely unprovoked attack.
“At this point in the investigation, there appears to have been no prior contact between them,” said a member of the FDNY. “He just walked up to her, accelerated, then stabbed her to death.”
Dailymail.com understands that when a witness to the brutal and senseless attack tried to intervene, the madman yelled back, ‘Fk you, fk you!!’ before attempting to charge the witness, who rescued his scooter.
According to the witness, the weapon would have been a steak knife.
The victim was left splayed at the corner with a deep, fatal stab wound to her chest, as well as about 18 smaller stab wounds to the upper and lower chest.
Emergency doctors at Mount Sinai Astoria tried unsuccessfully to treat the victim with a breathing tube, bilateral chest tubes and medication to restart her heart.
Russo-Elling was a mother, grandmother and also worked with the volunteer ambulance corps in Huntington, Long Island, where she lived.
She joined the FDNY in 1998 as an EMT and became a lieutenant in 2016. She was working at Station 49 in Astoria, Queens at the time of her death.
She was a first responder to the September 11, 2001 attacks and was credited multiple times for her “courage and her life-saving work,” Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanaugh said.
“She was absolutely loved in this job,” she added.
A colleague told reporters she was only months away from retirement, according to the New York Post.
In an official statement from the New York City Fire Department, Russo-Elling’s death is used as a stark reminder of the dangers emergency personnel face.
“The death of Alison Russo is a tragic reminder of the dangers facing every member of the FDNY and uniformed services,” the statement said.
“Her senseless murder brings grief to every member of the FDNY. We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the bowed-headed department, and we will be here forever to support our FDNY family during this unspeakably difficult time.
“We extend our deepest condolences and condolences to Alison’s family, loved ones and colleagues.”
New York City Mayor Eric Adams expressed his condolences to the City of New York, Russo-Elling’s family, friends and colleagues at a news conference at Mount Sinai Hospital.
“We have lost one of our heroes who provided them for this city for over 24 years,” he said.
Her attacker has been arrested and will be held responsible for his actions.
“She was on duty when she was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where she died of her injuries.”
Law enforcement officers quickly established a perimeter around the murder scene
Police remained at the 20th Avenue site near 41st Street for most of Thursday afternoon
FDNY members mourned the loss of a longtime colleague often praised for her heroic work at work
The photo of Russo-Elling was released Thursday night by colleagues from the New York City Fire Department, describing her long career as a frontline worker.
Tributes from colleagues were seen on Facebook to remember the ‘brave’ EMS member
The tragic incident comes as crime in the Big Apple has risen more than 33 percent from last year.
The driving force behind the increase is an increase of more than 37 percent in the number of robberies and a 32.4 percent increase in the number of burglaries.
The crime rate is also up 16.6 percent from last year, while major thefts are up a whopping 43 percent.
But the mayor fled the crumbling city this weekend to visit hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, which he calls New York’s “sixth borough.”
