A New York man has been charged with murder in Thursday’s stabbing death of an EMT who was randomly targeted.
The New York Post reported that FDNY Lieutenant Alison Russo-Elling, 61, was getting food in Queens when Peter Zisopoulos, 34, knocked her over and stabbed her in the chest and neck with a steak knife. Zisopoulos allegedly stabbed Russo-Elling 19 times and charged at a pedestrian who tried to stop him.
“F**k you, f**k you!” Zisopoulos reportedly said to the bystander while still holding the knife.
After the stabbing, Zisopoulos was said to have been chased away by another witness before he barricaded himself in his apartment which was located nearby, as CrimeOnline previously reported. Police eventually got him to surrender and took him into custody, according to the New York Post.
Previous reports described Zisopoulos as emotionally disturbed. According to the New York Post, Russo-Elling’s unit transported the suspect to the hospital in 2018 after he made anti-Asian posts on Facebook.
On Friday, Zisopoulos was charged with second-degree murder and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Officials said Russo-Elling was in the process of planning her retirement.
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[Featured image: Alison Russo-Elling/Facebook]
