A veteran emergency responder who worked on 9/11 was stabbed to death on her lunch break in a brutal and brazen unprovoked attack.
Lieutenant Alison Russo-Elling was stabbed over 20 times as she went to buy food in her home of Queens, New York City.
On duty at the time with the New York City Fire Department's (FDNY) medical response team (EMS), she was rushed to hospital but eventually died from her grim injuries.
Police sources said the killer said "f**k you, f**k you" as they repeatedly stabbed the stricken paramedic.
Russo-Elling was an emergency responder to the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre in 2001 and city Mayor Eric Adams described said New York "lost one of our heroes".
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CBS New York)He said: "We lost one of our heroes, she provided a service to the city for over 24 years, her assailant has been apprehended and will be held accountable for his actions."
The fallen lieutenant, who died at the age of 61, had served in the FDNY for 25 years and was promoted to paramedic in 2002. She finally made the position of lieutenant in 2016.
The FDNY's Acting Commissioner added: "Members of EMS serve only to help and save other people's lives. To be attacked and killed in the course of helping others is both heartbreaking and enraging for our department in ways I cannot describe. Lt. Russo exemplified FDNY EMS.
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CBS New York)"She served this city for 25 years, she was a World Trade Center first responder, she was cited multiple times for her bravery and her life-saving work and she was absolutely beloved on this job."
Awful surveillance footage revealed Russo-Elling being knocked to the ground by an alleged assailant, who was chased to his apartment by a passer-by.
An arrested man, identified as 34-year-old Peter Zisopoulos, barricaded himself in an apartment before police were able to coax him out. He has been charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon.
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Facebook/Alison Russo)Image:
Facebook/Alison Russo)An NYPD source told the New York Post that the attack was "unprovoked".
They said: "At this point in the investigation, there doesn’t appear to have been any prior contact between them. He just walked toward her, sped up and then stabbed her to death."
New York Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell said: "This deadly, senseless, broad daylight attack on a uniformed EMT member is a direct assault on our society.
"It is the latest consequence of the violence that we relentlessly fight in our city."
Emergency responders in New York have been attacked before and in 2017, FDNY medic Yadira Arroyo was killed with her own ambulance. The mum of five was crushed under the wheels as the vehicle was stolen.
The accused Jose Gonzalez was deemed fit to stand trial earlier this month and it is scheduled for January 3, 2023.
