Man Found Guilty of Murdering FDNY EMS Lieutenant

A man accused of brutally stabbing FDNY EMS Lt. Colonel Alison Russo has been convicted of her murder in a trial that deeply affected her family and colleagues.

The jury in Queens Supreme Court took less than an hour to find 37-year-old Peter Jisopoulos guilty of second-degree murder and weapons possession for the attack on the 61-year-old during her lunch break in September 2022.

Following the verdict, Russo’s parents expressed relief. This decision came after a week-long trial where Jisopoulos showed no signs of remorse while the prosecutor presented unsettling footage of the incident.

“This brings closure to my family,” Russo’s brother Craig Fuocó remarked after the jury’s decision.

He added that while the pain remains, they are ready to heal and honor Allison’s memory. “I think justice has been accomplished. It’s time to move forward, though it’s still difficult to let go,” he said.

Jisopoulos, who lives in Astoria, is set to face a sentence of 25 years to life on June 30.

The video evidence revealed that he attacked Russo just half a block from her station, stabbing her 20 times while she was in uniform.

On that day, Zisopoulos emerged from his building, pushed Russo to the ground, and repeatedly stabbed her with a serrated knife, targeting her chest, abdomen, and vital organs.

Witnesses attempted to step in but were chased away by Jisopoulos, who later returned home, leaving a trail of blood on the sidewalk.

Another passerby found Zisopoulos and rushed to a nearby EMS station for assistance.

He was apprehended after a brief standoff in his apartment. Police discovered the knife matching the attack in his pocket, containing DNA evidence from both him and Russo.

During his testimony, Jisopoulos provided conflicting accounts about his actions during the incident, even claiming he was watching Star Wars at the time of the stabbing.

Russo, remembered as a dedicated public servant, was known for her commitment to the community, having saved countless lives throughout her career. District Attorney Melinda Katz expressed hopes for solace for Russo’s family and colleagues, while FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker acknowledged the profound loss, saying the verdict may offer some closure but cannot replace Russo.