Peter Zisopoulos, a 34-year-old Queens man has been charged with fatally stabbing EMS worker Alison Russo-Elling in an unprovoked incident in New York City. Here’s what happened and why did the man stab the emergency services worker who was about to retire.
The head of the EMS officers union, Vincent Variale, revealed that Russo-Elling was just six or seven months away from retirement when she was stabbed and killed while being on duty.
Peter Zisopoulos Stabbed and Killed EMS Worker Alison Russo-Elling on Duty
A long-time emergency services worker, Alison Russo-Elling, 61, was stabbed and killed on Thursday, September 29, 2022. She was stabbed in the afternoon near her station in the Astoria section of Queens on duty.
The authorities stated the Russo-Elling was heading to a corner store to get something to eat when Zisopoulos stabbed her multiple times in a very short span of time. She was taken to the nearby hospital where the doctors pronounced her dead.
The police are investigating the case and Russo-Elling’s body has been sent for autopsy.
Peter Zisopoulos Charged with Murder of Alison Russo-Elling
The New York City Police Department announced on Friday that Peter Zisopoulos, 34, is being charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon in the fatal stabbing of Alison Russo-Elling.
After stabbing Russo-Elling on Thursday, Zisopoulos ran on foot to his Astoria apartment and locked himself inside. Eventually, the police found his whereabouts and arrested him. It’s unknown if he had an attorney who could comment on the charges against him.
The police are still carrying out investigating measures to figure out the motive behind the freak incident.
Why did Peter Zisopoulos fatally stab EMS Worker Alison Russo-Elling?
It’s unknown why Peter Zisopoulos stabbed and killed Alison Russo-Elling. The police are still working to figure out the motive behind the tragic incident that left the veteran EMS dead.
There are a number of probable motives that are being sought around including robbery, personal hatred, some past incidents, etc. We’ll let you know once more details are revealed about this unprovoked stabbing attempt.
Alison Russo-Elling had Served the EMS for Nearly 25 Years
Alison Russo-Elling was born in 1961 in Huntington, New York. She joined the fire department as an EMT in March 1998 and was promoted to paramedic in 2002, and later became a lieutenant in 2016.
She had been serving the Fire Department of the New York City (FDNY) for nearly 25 years. Russo-Elling was among the first responders to the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, when the infamous tragedy occurred.
The EMS lieutenant was planning to retire in the coming months to spend more time with her family as revealed by the head of her union. She was assigned to Station 49 in Astoria and was the 1,158th member of the FDNY.
Russo-Elling was fatally stabbed dead this past Thursday by Queens man Peter Zisopoulos. She has become the second from EMS in the past five years to die in the line of duty. She was a loving mother and grandmother who lived in Huntington on Long Island.
Friends and Colleagues lead tributes for Alison Russo-Elling
Tribute are coming in for Alison Russo-Eling who was killed on the line of duty this past Thursday.
Variable, the EMS officers union President, stated in an interview, “Alison was the sweetest, kindest person you’ve ever met,” Variale said. “She was also very brave.”
EMS Capt. Mike Dadonna revealed that Alison “always greeted you with a smile. No matter what was going on, she had a smile.”
“And she was absolutely beloved on this job,” said Acting Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh.
“Every day, they do their job in a manner in which many of us don’t realize how dangerous it is. She was working for this city. She paid the ultimate sacrifice because of that,” said former police officer Adams who used to work with Russo-Elling.
Netizens joined the EMS and officials to pay tribute to the late woman. Our heart goes out to her family. May God let Alison’s soul rest in peace.