A heinous crime involving a Greek-American man has been added to the list of violent attacks that are occurring more frequently in New York City, with victims seemingly chosen at random by people with no discernible motive.
34-year-old Peter Zisopoulos, a Greek-American who allegedly suffered from psychological problems, was arrested for the murder of a veteran New York Fire Department rescue worker.
Alison Russo-Elling was fatally attacked while on duty last Thursday afternoon near her post in the Astoria neighbourhood of Queens, reported Linda Schmidt.
#BREAKING Suspect in murder of FDNY EMS Lt. Alison Russo-Elling in custody & taken out of 114 NYPD Precinct in Astoria, Queens.
34 yr old Peter Zisopoulos charged with murder. #nypd #fdny #crime #EMS @fox5ny pic.twitter.com/wbM95i26xI
— Linda Schmidt (@LSchmidtFox5) September 30, 2022
The 61-year-old was heading to a nearby store to get something to eat on her break when Zisopoulos suddenly pounced on her and stabbed her more than 20 times, according to an eyewitness. The unfortunate woman was taken covered in blood to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Immediately after the attack, Zisopoulos ran back to his apartment and collapsed inside. After negotiating with the Police, he was persuaded to come out and was arrested. The motive of the perpetrator remains unclear.
The 34-year-old expat had never been arrested before, but police had visited his flat in 2018 after he had sent a disturbing message to a friend, and he had been taken to a hospital for psychiatric observation.
Russo-Elling served the city of New York for 25 years and was one of the first responders at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2002. According to her superiors at the Fire Department, she was a brave woman who had saved many lives, and much loved by her colleagues.
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