Surveillance footage of FDNY EMS Lt. Alison Russo-Elling’s brutal murder was played in court as her accused killer Peter Zisopoulos denied involvement despite overwhelming evidence.
At a Glance
- Peter Zisopoulos faces second-degree murder charges for the fatal stabbing of FDNY EMS Lt. Alison Russo-Elling, who was stabbed 22 times in September 2022
- Despite video evidence showing the assailant entering his building, Zisopoulos denies being the attacker and claims he was home watching TV
- Police recovered a knife from Zisopoulos’s pocket and observed blood on his hand when they apprehended him in his apartment
- Zisopoulos was previously deemed psychologically unfit for trial but has since been found competent and is not using an insanity defense
- Russo-Elling was a 25-year FDNY veteran and 9/11 first responder who was posthumously promoted to captain
Surveillance Video Captures Brutal Attack
A Queens courtroom fell silent as surveillance footage captured the horrific final moments of FDNY EMS Lieutenant Alison Russo-Elling’s life. The video, a cornerstone piece of evidence in the murder trial of Peter Zisopoulos, showed the 61-year-old first responder being repeatedly stabbed while on her lunch break in Astoria. According to prosecutors, Russo-Elling was attacked without provocation and stabbed 22 times in her chest and torso, injuries that proved fatal despite emergency treatment.
Witness Jaanki Oomraw, an auto mechanic who observed the attack, provided emotional testimony about the events that unfolded on that September day in 2022. Following the stabbing, Zisopoulos fled to his nearby apartment building where he barricaded himself inside. Police eventually used a hydraulic device to gain entry and apprehended the suspect, who was found with a knife in his pants pocket and blood on his hand.
Defendant’s Bizarre Testimony and Contradictions
On the witness stand, Zisopoulos maintained a detached demeanor that disturbed many in attendance, showing no emotion even as the graphic video of the attack played. Despite video evidence clearly showing the assailant entering his apartment building, he denied being the person in the footage. His testimony contained multiple inconsistencies about his whereabouts during the murder, alternately claiming he was asleep, watching “Star Wars,” or watching the news when the attack occurred.
When confronted with evidence of blood found in his apartment and on his person, Zisopoulos offered improbable explanations, suggesting the blood came from his sister’s nosebleed. He further claimed that police officers had cut his hand during his arrest, contradicting his earlier statement that the wound was old. These inconsistencies have become central to the prosecution’s case as they work to dismantle his claims of innocence.
Mental Fitness and Legal Strategy
Though Zisopoulos was initially deemed psychologically unfit to stand trial due to delusions and psychosis, subsequent evaluations found him competent to face charges. His defense has not pursued an insanity defense, instead focusing on challenging the prosecution’s evidence of intent necessary for a second-degree murder conviction. A defense motion to dismiss the case for lack of evidence was rejected by the court, allowing the trial to proceed.
If convicted, Zisopoulos faces 25 years to life in prison. The defendant acknowledged trying to prevent police from entering his apartment after the murder but maintains he never left his home during the timeframe when Russo-Elling was killed. The jury now faces the challenge of determining Zisopoulos’s criminal intent despite his continued denial of involvement despite the video evidence and witness testimony.
Honoring a Fallen Hero
Alison Russo-Elling served the FDNY for 25 years and was among the first responders who rushed to aid victims on September 11, 2001. Her dedication to public service was recognized posthumously when she was promoted to captain. Family members in attendance at the trial have expressed outrage and disbelief at Zisopoulos’s apparent lack of remorse and his denial of responsibility despite the overwhelming evidence against him.
The senseless killing of Russo-Elling while she was simply getting lunch during her shift has shocked the first responder community and highlighted the dangers faced by emergency medical personnel. As the trial continues, colleagues remember her as a dedicated public servant who devoted her life to saving others, only to have her own life taken in a random act of violence on the streets she served for more than two decades.
