Fdny ems at crime scene in new york city. - file photo
FDNY EMS at crime scene in New York City. - File Photo

Astoria man sentenced to 25 years to life for fatal stabbing of FDNY EMS Captain Alison Russo

Posted by
1 min read
June 30, 2025

QUEENS, N.Y. — A Queens man has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the fatal 2022 stabbing of FDNY EMS Captain Alison Russo, District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Monday.

Peter Zisopoulos, 37, of Astoria, was convicted last month of second-degree murder and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon after a 12-day jury trial. The jury reached its verdict in less than an hour. Queens Supreme Court Justice Ushir Pandit-Durant imposed the maximum sentence following the conviction.

On September 29, 2022, Russo, 61, was on duty and in uniform when Zisopoulos exited his apartment on 41st Street, attacked her unprovoked, and stabbed her multiple times with a kitchen knife, striking vital organs.


Key Points

  • Peter Zisopoulos was sentenced to 25 years to life for the 2022 murder of EMS Captain Alison Russo
  • Russo was attacked while on duty in Astoria in an unprovoked knife assault
  • The defendant was convicted after a 12-day trial and brief jury deliberation

A passerby attempted to intervene but was chased off by the knife-wielding attacker. Zisopoulos then returned to his apartment, where he was later taken into custody following a standoff. A knife found in his pants pocket contained DNA from both him and the victim.

Russo was transported to a hospital where she was pronounced dead. She was posthumously promoted to captain in recognition of her 24 years of service, including her work during the September 11 recovery efforts.

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss

Exit mobile version