The murder of an EMS officer is taking center stage in a New York court as her alleged killer goes on trial.
At a Glance
- Peter Zisopoulos is on trial for the 2022 murder of FDNY EMS Lt. Alison Russo-Elling
- The prosecution presented graphic surveillance footage and autopsy photos
- Zisopoulos, though schizophrenic, refused to plead insanity and was deemed competent
- Russo-Elling’s daughter, also an EMT, was present during emotional opening statements
- The case mirrors the earlier murder trial of EMT Yadira Arroyo, who was killed in 2017
Courtroom Unites in Grief and Resolve
In a Queens courtroom filled with emotion and memories, the murder trial of Peter Zisopoulos began with chilling evidence and tearful testimony. Zisopoulos is accused of stabbing FDNY EMS Lt. Alison Russo-Elling more than 20 times during a midday break near her stationhouse in Astoria in September 2022. Surveillance footage shown in court reportedly captures the frenzied attack in horrifying clarity.
Russo-Elling’s daughter, Danielle Fuoco, herself an EMT, watched the proceedings with visible anguish. “They have waited long enough for justice,” Fuoco later said, expressing hope that Zisopoulos “will not be free again.”
The case echoes the emotional trial and sentencing of Jose Gonzalez, convicted of killing EMT Yadira Arroyo in 2017. Gonzalez’s case similarly involved questions of mental illness and drew intense public scrutiny. Both trials underscore the growing threats faced by emergency responders and the profound loss when public servants are targeted in the line of duty.
Defense Rejects Insanity Plea
Though Zisopoulos has a documented history of schizophrenia, he has declined an insanity defense. Queens State Supreme Court Judge Ushir Pandit-Durant ruled him competent to stand trial, noting that he “demonstrated an understanding of the trial process, the charges against him, and the potential for a guilty verdict.”
Despite advice from doctors who believed a psychological defense was viable, Zisopoulos insisted otherwise. “That’s what he told two psychiatrists,” Judge Durant affirmed in court.
The evidence presented is damning. The knife used in the killing was recovered, still bearing DNA from both Zisopoulos and Russo-Elling. Autopsy reports described deep wounds to the heart, lungs, and liver. EMT John Nicosia, who discovered the wounded Russo-Elling moments after the assault, gave emotional testimony about his failed attempts to save her life.
Seeking Justice and Meaning
As the trial proceeds, it has reignited conversations about mental health, criminal accountability, and the risks borne daily by emergency personnel. Many in the courtroom drew comparisons to the Arroyo case, where Gonzalez—though found to be schizophrenic—was convicted and sentenced to life without parole. Bronx DA Darcel Clark had said, “Today that mission was accomplished” in achieving justice for Arroyo.
Russo-Elling’s trial now seeks to achieve the same. Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh has publicly supported the Russo family, reaffirming that “we will continue to honor her memory of service to our city.”
Beyond the legal verdict, the proceedings serve as a reminder of the human cost of violence against public servants—and the need for a system that offers justice not only in punishment but in dignity for those who serve and suffer.
