Maniac who slaughtered beloved FDNY paramedic found guilty of murder in the brutal, random NYC attack
The maniac accused of ruthlessly stabbing beloved FDNY EMS Lt.Alison Russo was found guilty of her murder Monday — following a shocking trial where her relatives and colleagues were forced to relive the horrific act.Jurors in Queens Supreme Court deliberated for less than an hour before convicting 37-year-old Peter Zisopoulos of second-degree murder and weapon possession for randomly attacking Russo, 61, during her lunch break in September 2022.Russo’s relatives celebrated the swift verdict, which came after an approximately week-long trial where Zisopoulos took the stand and chillingly showed virtually no emotion as prosecutors played gruesome footage of the slaying.“This brings closure for my family,” Craig Fuoco, Russo’s brother, said after the jury’s decision was delivered.“Nothing can erase the pain.
Alison’s missed every day,” Fuoco said, while flanked by his late sister’s FDNY colleagues and her daughter, Danielle Russo.“We’re ready to start healing and keep Alison’s memory alive,” he said.“[I’m] happy that I think justice was done.
Happy to start to move forward.But Alison will continue to be missed.
It’s continuing to be difficult to move on, but we’ll find a way.”Zisopoulos, of Astoria, will face 25-years-to-life in prison at his sentencing June 30.Video played at trial showed the unhinged attacker knocking over the 9/11 first-responder and knifing her 20 times just a half-block from her stationhouse.Prosecutors said Zisopoulos attacked Russo in broad daylight on Sept.29, 2022 while she was on duty in her uniform.He walked out of his apartment building and rushed at Russo, shoving her to the pavement and getting on top of her — before stabbing her repeatedly with a serrated kitchen knife in the chest and abdomen, including her lungs, liver and heart.A bystander on a scooter tried to intervene, but was chased away by a still-armed Zisopoulos, according to trial evidence.
The knife-wielding attacker then circled ...