Friday 30 September 2022 12:08 AM PICTURED: Hero EMT, 61, stabbed to death while giving aid to patient trends now
A 'hero' Emergency Medical Service Lieutenant and World Trade Center first responder has died after being stabbed to death while rendering aid to a patient in Queens.
The New York City Fire Department have released a photo of Alison Russo-Elling, 61, calling the courageous frontline worker a 24-year veteran in the field.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams gave his condolences to the city of New York, Russo-Elling's family and friends and colleagues.
'We lost one of our heroes she provided a service for this city for over 24 years,' he said.
'Her assailant has been apprehended and will be held accountable for his actions.'
Emergency Medical Service Lieutenant and World Trade Center first responder, Alison Russo-Elling (pictured), 61, has died after being stabbed while rendering aid to a patient in Queens
Alison Russo-Elling was called a courageous frontline worker who provided a service for close to 25 years
The EMS lieutenant, who was also known for her work as a World Trade Center first responder, was then rushed to Mount Sinai Queens, where she was pronounced dead at 3.06pm
New York City Mayor Eric Adams (center) gave his condolences to the city of New York, Russo-Elling's family and friends and colleagues
Russo-Elling was stabbed to death in Queens on Thursday as crime in the Big Apple continues to spiral out of control.
Police say the 61-year-old medic was rendering aid to a patient in the Astoria neighborhood at 2.20pm, when an emotionally disturbed relative of the patient stabbed her multiple times in the neck.
The EMS lieutenant, who has worked for the Fire Department of New York for more than 20 years, was then rushed to Mount Sinai Queens, where she was pronounced dead at 3.06pm.
Law enforcement officials later told NBC New York the EMT was wearing civilian clothes after leaving her station when the assailant stabbed her from behind.
The suspect then escaped authorities and barricaded himself inside a nearby building before riot crews went in and were able to arrest him.
Police cordoned off the area in which the 61-year-old EMS lieutenant was stabbed while rendering aid to a patient in Astoria, Queens
Authorities say the incident happened at 2.20pm in the Astoria neighborhood
Police say the woman was killed by a mentally ill relative of the patient she was treating
Police were seen remaining on the scene of 20th Avenue near 41st Street Thursday afternoon as they took a suspect into custody.
In a tweet posted at 3.20pm, Mayor Eric Adams' press secretary, Fabien Levy, said the mayor has been 'initially briefed' on the stabbing and 'is enroute to Mt. Sinai Hospital in Queens.'
He is expected to provide a news conference about the situation, as dozens of emergency workers gathered outside the hospital, consoling each other.
In the meantime, authorities are asking the public to avoid the area of Steinway Street and 20th Avenue.
The unidentified 61-year-old later succumbed to her injuries at a local hospital
Police remained on the scene of 20th Avenue near 41st Street Thursday afternoon
A large contingent of law enforcement and FDNY was seen gathered after the stabbing
The incident comes as crime in the Big Apple is up over 33 percent from last year.
Driving the increase is a more than 37 percent increase in the number of robberies, and a 32.4 percent increase in burglaries.
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