Latest news with #AlisonRusso
New York Times
a day ago
- New York Times
Man Who Killed Paramedic in Random Attack Receives 25 Years to Life
One afternoon in late September 2022, Alison Russo, a lieutenant with the New York City Emergency Medical Service, was walking back to her station in Astoria, Queens, after lunch. Ms. Russo, a 24-year veteran, was a half block from the station when a man charged her, brandishing a knife. He began relentlessly stabbing her, striking her more than 20 times, the police said. The attack was caught on video, and a bystander who had witnessed the stabbing ran to Ms. Russo's station to report the crime. She died of her injuries at a hospital. Ms. Russo, who was posthumously promoted to captain, had been just months shy of retirement. Peter Zisopoulos, the man who stabbed her, was sentenced on Monday to 25 years to life in prison. 'Nothing will bring Captain Russo back,' Melinda Katz, the Queens district attorney, said in a statement. She added that she hoped 'the pain and grief over her loss will lessen with today's sentencing.' New York City's fire commissioner, Robert S. Tucker, in a statement called Ms. Russo 'the best of the best' and 'a longtime public servant and friend who has been missed every single day since her senseless murder in 2022.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
New York Post
2 days ago
- New York Post
Maniac who fatally stabbed beloved FDNY capt. in unprovoked NYC attack learns his fate
The maniac who fatally stabbed a beloved FDNY paramedic in an unprovoked attack got the max prison sentence Monday — as dozens of EMS workers packed the Queens courtroom. Peter Zisopoulos, 37, who was found guilty of second-degree murder last month in the senseless 2022 killing of veteran and 9/11 hero FDNY Capt. Alison Russo, looked bored at the hearing — till the judge gave him a massive wake-up call, slapping him with 25 years to life behind bars. 'Thank God,' the slain EMT's daughter, Danielle Russo, told reporters afterward. 5 The killer looks bored in Queens court Monday before getting hit with a 25-years-to-life sentence. Stephen Yang 'I just hope she can see what we are doing, what's being done for her,' Danielle added of her mom. 'I hope she is proud of the way I handled everything.' 5 FDNY EMT Capt. Alison Russo, a first-responder on Sept. 11, 2001, was stabbed to death in 2022. FDNY Russo, 61, was grabbing lunch just a half-block from her station house Sept. 29, 2022, when Zisopoulos walked out of his apartment building near 20th Avenue and 41st Street and suddenly rushed at Russo, who he didn't know, shoving her to the pavement and getting on top of her while clutching a serrated kitchen knife. The killer chased away a bystander who tried to intervene and stabbed Russo nearly two dozen times in the chest and abdomen before fleeing to the apartment he shared with his mother. 5 Danielle Russo, the victim's daughter, said she hopes her mother is proud of her for helping to pursue justice. Stephen Yang 5 Peter Zisopoulos, 37, was convicted of second-degree murder in the slaying of Alison. BRIGITTE STELZER 5 Zispoulos, 37, randomly killed the 9/11 first-responder. Stephen Yang Another bystander ran to a nearby EMS station for help, and Zisopoulos was quickly arrested in the attack — which was captured on chilling surveillance footage. A Queens jury convicted the killer May 19 after a 12-day trial. 'Alison Russo was the best of the best: a longtime public servant and friend who has been missed every single day since her senseless murder in 2022,' city Fire Commissioner Robert Tucker said in a statement following the proceedings. 'This sentencing speaks to the brutality of the crime, and though it won't bring her back, I pray it will finally give her family the closure they deserve,' he said. Queens DA Melinda Katz said Russo will not be forgotten. 'New York will always remember FDNY EMS Captain Alison Russo as a hero, who – for 24 years – served our city and saved countless lives,' Katz said in a statement. 'In the dark days after September 11, she worked in search and recovery efforts in Lower Manhattan,' Katz said. 'Nothing will bring Captain Russo back, but we hope that the pain and grief over her loss will lessen with today's sentencing.' Danielle Russo told reporters, 'Thank God I can put this piece of the process behind me for a little bit. 'Obviously the situation will never go away. It's something I have to live with every single day. 'What you see going is all the support that I have from family, friends and the fire department,' she said. 'I couldn't ask for anything more. Basically, they've carried me through this process.'
CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
Sentencing day in killing of FDNY paramedic Alison Russo
The man convicted in FDNY paramedic Alison Russo's brutal killing will learn his fate today. Russo, 61, was stabbed to death in September, 2022 while walking from her stationhouse to get a snack. A jury found Peter Zisopoulous, 36, guilty of second degree murder and weapons possession. Russo, a 9/11 first responder and 25-year FDNY veteran, was attacked after she went on break and went to get food. A jury found that shortly after she walked past his apartment, Zisopoulos charged and attacked her, stabbing her 20 times. The killing was caught on surveillance video. Zisopoulos took the stand in his own defense. He testified he never left his home the night Russo was killed, saying he was asleep until police knocked on his door. When he was arrested, he was found with a bloody kitchen knife in his pocket, prosecutors said. Zisopoulos testified after two doctors had previously determined he was psychologically unfit to stand trial. Russo's family spoke out after Zisopoulos was convicted. "This brings closure for my family. Nothing can erase the pain," Russo's brother Craig Fuoco said at the time. "It's tough to explain. Happy that I think justice was done. Happy to start to move forward. But Alison will continue to be missed. It's continuing to be difficult to move on, but we'll find a way." Russo was posthumously promoted to captain. She is survived by a daughter, her parents and her younger brother.
CBS News
19-05-2025
- CBS News
Man found guilty of murder in FDNY paramedic Alison Russo's stabbing death
Man accused of murdering FDNY paramedic in 2022 takes stand in trial Man accused of murdering FDNY paramedic in 2022 takes stand in trial Man accused of murdering FDNY paramedic in 2022 takes stand in trial The a man accused of fatally stabbing FDNY paramedic Alison Russo in September 2022 was found guilty Monday. Peter Zisopoulos, 36, was convicted of second degree murder and weapons possession. Zisopoulos had pleaded not guilty and testified in his own defense. Zisopoulos said he was sleeping during brutal attack Russo was stabbed to death while she was on break and went to get food after leaving her Astoria stationhouse. Zisopoulos had testified he never left his home the night of the killing. He said he was asleep until police came to knock on his door. At the time of his arrest, he allegedly had a bloody kitchen knife in his pocket. Arresting officers believed it was the murder weapon. Doctors had previously declared Zisopoulos unfit for trial Two doctors had previously deemed Zisopoulos psychologically unfit to stand trial. Russo, 61, was a 25-year FDNY veteran and a 9/11 first responder. She was posthumously promoted to captain, and left behind a daughter, her parents and a younger brother.
CBS News
16-05-2025
- CBS News
Man accused of fatally stabbing FDNY paramedic takes stand in own trial
The man accused of stabbing FDNY paramedic Alison Russo to death in September 2022 took the stand Friday during his trial. Peter Zisopoulos, 36, is charged with murder and has pleaded not guilty. Zisopoulos claims he was sleeping in apartment during brutal attack In front of a courtroom packed with first responders, the defense called Zisopoulos to the stand. At the time of his arrest, Zisopoulos allegedly had a kitchen knife covered in blood in his pocket, which arresting officers believed was the murder weapon. Zisopoulos has maintained he never left home, previously telling police he was watching the news when Russo was stabbed to death while on a break and walking from the Astoria stationhouse to get food. Friday on the stand, however, Zisopoulos said he was asleep until police began knocking on his door. "I didn't answer. I don't trust them," he said. In cross-examination, Zisopoulos was shown video from multiple angles of the attack. He admitted he recognized the block as the one right outside his apartment, but when prosecutors asked if he was the man in the video, he said no. "It may look like me, but in an old photo," Zisopoulos said. Suspect admits to having bloody knife in pocket The trend continued between Zisopoulos and the prosecutor; the defendant would admit to some incriminating details, but not the crime. When asked if the knife he admitted to having in his pocket that day was used to kill Russo, Zisopoulos said, "I don't think so." He also said the blood in his apartment was from his sister's bloody nose. "You did everything in your power to keep police from entering?" Queens Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Selkowe asked. "Yes," Zisopoulos said. "Because you knew that if police came in, they would find the person with the knife?" Selkowe asked. "Yes," Zisopoulos said. Prosecutors then rested their case. The judge dismissed the jury after the testimony as both sides rested their cases. Closing arguments will begin at 10 a.m. Monday, followed by jury deliberations. "It's pretty difficult to even see him up there and act so nonchalant" Two doctors had previously deemed Zisopoulos psychologically unfit to stand trial, and he is said to have denied using an insanity defense. "It's just a real shame that he's walking the earth and among us," Russo's daughter, Danielle Fuoco, said. "It's pretty difficult to even see him up there and act so nonchalant about such a vicious and savage attack." Law professor Anna Cominsky says the challenge for the prosecutors, and now the jury, has been the issue of intent. "The jury will ultimately make the determination about whether or not there are facts which show them, beyond a reasonable doubt, that he intended the actions that he took," Cominsky said. Russo, 61, was a 25-year FDNY veteran and a 9/11 first responder. She was posthumously promoted to captain, and left behind a daughter, her parents and a younger brother.
