[Townhall] Lieutenant Alison Russo-Elling, a 25-year veteran of the New York City Fire Department, was attacked and killed in a knife attack while she was working at EMS Station 49 in Queens on Thursday.In a post on Instagram, FDNY stated the attack on Russo-Elling was unprovoked and she was first responder to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, "aiding in the rescue and recovery efforts":
"At approximately 2:20pm, Lt. Russo-Elling was on duty in the vicinity of 20th Avenue and Steinway Street in Astoria near her station’s quarters. She was stabbed multiple times in an unprovoked attack. She was transported in critical condition to Mt. Sinai Queens Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries. Lt. Russo-Elling worked out of Station 49 in Astoria at the time she was killed...She is the 1,158th member of the Department to make the Supreme Sacrifice while serving our city."
The New York City Uniformed Firemen's Association said the organization "and all members of the FDNY are Enraged at the senseless killing and ever increasing violence in our city."
| Update at 1:10 p.ml ET: |
[NYPost] The maniac who allegedly stabbed veteran FDNY T Lt. Alison Russo-Elling to death in an unprovoked Queens attack has been charged with murder, cops said Friday.
Peter Zisopoulous, 34, also faces a weapon possession charge in connection to the senseless attack on the 61-year-old paramedic, who was stabbed more than 20 times at 20th Avenue and 41st Street in Astoria around 2:20 p.m. Thursday, police said.
| Photo at the link makes him look like a nutter. |
A witness confronted the madman, but he snarled, "F—k you, f—k you!" before stepping away from his victim and charging at the scooter-riding pedestrian while still holding the knife, police sources said.
The victim — whose injuries included a deep, lethal wound to the chest — was left unresponsive on the ground after her callous attacker ran off, according to sources and the video.
He was busted after he was chased by a good Samaritan and barricaded himself inside his nearby apartment, NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig said Thursday.
Police were able to talk him down and take him into custody on the third floor of the apartment.
Russo-Elling had gone to grab food when Zisopoulous allegedly 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," an FDNY source said. "He just walked toward her, sped up and then stabbed her to death."
A 24 hour delay for conclusion of appeals should be sufficient. Monday or Tuesday at the latest.