Parents of NYC paramedic slain in broad daylight while grabbing lunch confront Mayor Eric Adams

The parents of murdered hero EMT Alison Russo-Elling pleaded with New York City Mayor Eric Adams to stop the Big Apple’s spiraling crime at the wake to celebrate their daughter Monday.

Peter Zisopoulos, 34, was charged with the ‘barbaric and completely unprovoked,’ stabbing death of Russo-Elling, 61, a nearly 25-year veteran of the New York Fire Department last week.

Adams attended the wake for Russo-Elling, along with hundreds of other mourners, including fellow FDNY members, NYPD, EMTs and Suffolk County Police, which took place at Commack on Long Island. 

Suffolk County Legislator Leslie Kennedy says she saw the parents speak to Adams and that they ‘just took the mayor on,’ with anger and jokes and ‘let him have it’, according to the New York Post. 

Catherine Fuocco, Russo-Elling’s mother, asked Adams, ‘Weren’t you a police officer for 30 years?’

After Adams confirmed it, she responded: ‘You know what to do,’ begging Adams, ‘Please, give me back my city.’   

Kennedy, who represents Suffolk County which is just outside of New York City, said that Fuocco and her husband Frank were ‘saying what we’re saying: ‘Make my city better, make my city better.’  

Adams apparently responded with ‘some brief statements that were comforting and accepting of what was said to him.’  

A spokesman for Adams said Monday night, ‘Our hearts are with Lieutenant Alison Russo-Elling’s family, her fellow FDNY EMS members, and with all New Yorkers who lost a truly amazing public servant woman to a senseless act of violence. We will never forget Lt. Russo-Elling’s bravery and commitment to service as we mourn her loss along with the FDNY.’

Zisopoulos was charged with murder and possession of a weapon for the attack that took place Thursday afternoon in broad daylight on a street in Astoria, Queens. 

This is reportedly his first arrest. He had an interaction with the police in 2018, when he was accused of issuing threats to 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 known to also house New York’s only swingers club.

Zisopoulos initially locked himself in his apartment, but surrendered to law enforcement about an hour later. 

Russo-Elling was on her way to get food when Zisopoulous allegedly approached her and stabbed her in what authorities said was a random and completely unprovoked attack.

‘At this point in the investigation there doesn’t appear to have been any prior contact between them,’ said a member of the FDNY. ‘He just walked toward her, sped up and then stabbed her to death.’

Dailymail.com understands that when a witness to the brutal and senseless attack attempted to intervene, the lunatic allegedly yelled back, ‘F–k you, f–k you!!’ before attempting to charge the witness, who rode his scooter to safety.

According to the witness, the weapon may have been a steak knife.

The victim was left splayed on the corner with a deep, lethal stab wound to her chest, as well as approximately 18 smaller stab wounds to the upper and lower chest.

Emergency doctors at Mount Sinai Astoria unsuccessfully attempted to treat the victim with a breathing tube, bi-lateral 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 as an EMT in 1998 and became a lieutenant in 2016. She worked out of Station 49 in Astoria, Queens at the time of her passing and was just months away from retirement. 

She was a first responder to the September 11, 2001 attacks and was credited multiple times for her ‘bravery and her life-saving work,’ said Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanaugh.

‘She was absolutely beloved on this job,’ she added.

In an official statement from the New York City Fire Department, Russo-Elling’s death has been used as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by emergency services workers.

‘The death of Alison Russo is a tragic reminder of the dangers faced by each and every member of the FDNY and uniformed services,’ the statement read.

‘Her senseless killing brings sorrow to every member of the FDNY. We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the Department with bowed heads, and we will forever be here to support our FDNY family in this unspeakably difficult time.

‘We extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to Alison’s family, loved ones, and colleagues.’

Though the NYPD has reported a nearly 12 percent drop in homicides in 2022, cops reported an eight percent jump in 911 calls related to emotionally or mentally disturbed people, according to the New York Daily News.

In total the NYPD received 131,199 such calls through the end of September – about 500 per day – an increase from 128,488 over the same period last year.

Robberies have also spiked 37 percent, and grand larceny is up 43 percent.