Wednesday 5 October 2022 09:01 PM First responders line the streets for funeral of a paramedic who was stabbed to ... trends now
Hundreds of first responders have formed an emotional guard of honor for a hero paramedic who was stabbed to death by a maniac as she grabbed lunch.
Firefighters, cops and medics straddled the streets of Brookville in New York as Alison Russo-Elling's coffin was driven past in the back of an ambulance.
Bagpipers and drummers led the procession past the Tiles Center to her burial site as New York City Mayor Eric Adams was among those watching on with the 61-year-old's family.
Her casket, draped in the stars and stripes flag, was hoisted out of the FDNY ambulance before the rows of emergency service personnel saluted the fallen medic.
Russo-Elling was a 9/11 first responder and attended to more than 25,000 calls in the 24 years since she joined the FDNY in March 1998.
Last week she was stabbed out of the blue by a crazed man as she walked through a street in Queens during her lunch break.
Peter Zisopoulos, 34, was charged with the 'barbaric and completely unprovoked' stabbing on Thursday afternoon in Astoria, Queens.
Russo-Elling's devastated family confronted Adams at her wake on Monday over his failure to crack down on spiraling crime in the Big Apple.
The victim's mother is presented with her helmet during the emotional ceremony that drew hundreds on Wednesday afternoon
Firefighters, cops and medics straddled the streets of Brookville in New York as Alison Russo-Elling's coffin was driven past in the back of an ambulance
Bagpipers and drummers led the procession past the Tiles Center to her burial site as New York City Mayor Eric Adams was among those watching on with the 61-year-old's family
Her casket, draped in the stars and stripes flag, was hoisted out of the FDNY ambulance before the rows of emergency service personnel saluted the fallen medic
Russo-Elling was a 9/11 first responder and attended to more than 25,000 calls in the 24 years since she joined the FDNY in March 1998
Eric Adams is among those pictured at the service on Wednesday afternoon as he stood alongside her family and other EMT workers
Russo-Elling was a 9/11 first responder and attended to more than 25,000 calls in the 24 years since she joined the FDNY in March 1998
Peter Zisopoulus, 34, is perp walked Friday after killing an on-duty EMT on Thursday. He is pictured wearing a white jumpsuit and in handcuffs
Heartbreaking pictures showed the hundreds who turned out for Russo-Elling on Wednesday afternoon as they laid her to rest.
An FDNY ambulance served as a hearse and was led by a police escort and to the tune of bagpipes and drummers to her burial site.
Along its route hundreds of other first responders lined up in a show of respect. The funeral was held in the Tiles Center in Brookville and attended by members of the FDNY and city officials including Adams.
Her father said during the service: 'That man murdered my daughter and she would be the first one to come to his aid if he ever needed her help. He left her lying in the street like a ragdoll that was just discarded.'
During the service Russo-Elling was posthumously to the rank of captain. 'I couldn't hear her cry out, 'Mom, Dad, help,' he said during the funeral.
'That man murdered my daughter. He killed her and tore a hole in our hearts and all of her colleagues. The mayor addressed Russo-Elling's family members in the front row of the service directly.
He said: 'You've given us your daughter. You've given us your mother. There are no words that can define parents losing their children. There's nothing more unnatural than that.
'This is a dark moment for us. We want people to know what a brave hero your mom and your daughter was. My heart goes out to you, not as a mayor, not as an elected official, but as a son of the city and a person, a human being. I am so sorry.'
At their daughter's wake on Monday the direction of the exchange was reversed. Russo-Elling's parents confronted Mayor Adams urging him to take action in response to the city's escalating crime rate.
Heartbreaking pictures showed the hundreds who turned out including Eric Adams (pictured) for Russo-Elling on Wednesday afternoon as they laid her to rest
An FDNY ambulance served as a hearse and was led by a police escort and to the tune of bagpipes and drummers to her burial site
Along its route hundreds of other first responders lined up in a show of respect. The funeral was held in the Tiles Center in Brookville and attended by members of the FDNY and city officials including Adams
Her father said during the service: 'That man murdered my daughter and she would be the first one to come to his aid if he ever needed her help. He left her lying in the street like a ragdoll that was just discarded'
During the service Russo-Elling was posthumously to the rank of captain. 'I couldn't hear her cry out, 'Mom, Dad, help,' he said during the funeral
Peter Zisopoulos, 34, was charged with the 'barbaric and completely unprovoked,' stabbing death of Russo-Elling, 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
