Friday 30 September 2022 05:14 PM Maniac is charged with murder for 'stabbing to death hero EMT on Queens street ... trends now
A man with a history of schizophrenia was charged for the fatal stabbing of hero EMT Alison Russo-Elling on Thursday, according to police sources.
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.
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.
Peter Zisopoulos, 34, was charged with the 'barbaric and completely unprovoked,' stabbing death of Russo-Elling, an EMT
Zisopoulos was charged with murder and weapon possession for the attack that took place Thursday afternoon in broad daylight on a street in Astoria, Queens.
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 is seen on surveillance camera stabbing Russo-Elling on Thursday afternoon in Queens
Russo-Elling's body was escorted to the Medical Examiner's office from Mt. Sinai Hospital Queens in presence of other NYC first-responders
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
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.
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