Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Peter Zisopoulos was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for killing Captain Alison Russo of the FDNY EMS, in an unprovoked knife attack steps away from her Astoria stationhouse in September 2022. Last month, a jury convicted Zisopoulos of murder in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.

District Attorney Katz said: “New York will always remember FDNY EMS Captain Alison Russo as a hero, who – for 24 years – served our city and saved countless lives. In the dark days after September 11, she worked in search and recovery efforts in Lower Manhattan. Nothing will bring Captain Russo back, but we hope that the pain and grief over her loss will lessen with today’s sentencing. This defendant will now serve 25 years to life in prison for this brutal and senseless crime.”

Zisopoulos, 37, of 41^st Street in Astoria, was convicted of murder in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree during a 12-day jury trial which opened May 7. The jury deliberated for less than one hour before reaching a verdict. Queens Supreme Court Justice Ushir Pandit-Durant, who presided at trial, sentenced Zisopoulos today to 25 years to life in prison.

According to the charges and trial testimony, on September 29, 2022, at approximately 2:10 p.m., Alison Russo was in uniform and on duty as an FDNY EMS lieutenant when she left her stationhouse on a break and walked on 41^st Street near 20^th Avenue. Zisopoulos exited his apartment building, raced towards Russo and shoved her to the sidewalk. The defendant then repeatedly plunged a kitchen knife into the 61-year-old woman’s chest and abdomen, penetrating her liver, lungs and heart.

According to trial records, a passerby on a scooter noticed the attack in progress and attempted to intervene by shouting at the defendant. Zisopoulos then turned his attention to the man on the scooter. The defendant yelled at the passerby and then chased the scooter rider with a knife in his hand.

Zisopoulos then doubled back, passed Russo as she bled on the sidewalk, turned the corner and walked into his apartment building.

A second good Samaritan followed Zisopoulos, observed the defendant return to his building and then ran to the nearby EMS station to get help.

Police responded to the scene and – after a standoff during which Zisopoulos refused to open his apartment door – he was arrested. A knife was recovered from the defendant’s front pants pocket. Testing determined that a mixture of DNA was found on the knife belonging to both Russo and the defendant.

Russo was taken to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead. She was posthumously promoted to captain.

Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Selkowe, Deputy Bureau Chief of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, prosecuted the case with the assistance of Assistant District Attorney Siranoush Nalbandian, of the District Attorney’s Felony Trial Bureau IV, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney John Kosinski, Bureau Chief, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for the Major Crimes Division Shawn Clark.