'Heartbreaking and enraging' stabbing death of FDNY paramedic and 9/11 responder in Queens

Lt. Alison Russo-Elling, a 61-year-old FDNY paramedic who was on duty in Queens' Astoria area, was stabbed numerous times in an unprovoked attack.

An experienced FDNY paramedic was tragically stabbed while performing his or her job in a Queens neighborhood on Thursday afternoon, and the city of New York is in deep grief.

Emergency Medical Service Lt. Alison Russo-Elling, 61, was attacked in a "barbaric and entirely unprovoked" manner near 20th Avenue and Steinway Street while she was working at EMS Station 49 in Astoria, according to FDNY Acting Commissioner Laura Kavanagh. She was stabbed many times.

When she was walking to acquire dinner at around 2:15 p.m., the fatal attack occurred. She was dressed in her EMS outfit and could be easily recognized.

According to NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell, "This terrible, thoughtless, broad daylight attack on a uniformed EMT member is a blatant assault on our culture." It is the most recent repercussion of the violence that we tenaciously combat in our community.

FDNY paramedic Lt. Alison Russo-Elling was tragically stabbed on Thursday, and the location of the incident occurred in the Queens borough of Astoria. Credit :  (Peter Gerber)

The 24-year FDNY veteran was transferred in serious condition to Mt. Sinai Queens Hospital, where she died.

This type of violence, according to Sewell, "cannot be permitted in New York" and "must and will be stopped."

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced Thursday that the city has lost one of its heroes who had served the city's inhabitants for almost two decades.

"Every day, they execute their work in a way that many of us don't understand is risky," Adams said. "She was employed by the city. Because of that, she made the ultimate sacrifice."

Kavanagh went on to say that EMS workers exist purely to aid and save other people's lives, and that being killed while working to save others is "heartbreaking and enraging" in ways she can't articulate.

On Thursday, September 29, 2022, FDNY paramedic Lt. Alison Russo-Elling was tragically stabbed while performing her job in Queens' Astoria district. (New York City Fire Department)

The killing was committed by a 34-year-old male, according to NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig.

According to Essig, one of the two witnesses to the stabbing chased the suspect into his adjoining third-floor flat, where he locked himself. The Hostage Negotiating Team and Emergency Service Unit ultimately coaxed him out of his flat and took him into arrest.

The culprit, according to Mayor Adams, "will be held responsible for his acts."

Tactical police from New York City arrive in Queens to capture the culprit in the deadly stabbing of FDNY paramedic Lt. Alison Russo-Elling. (Peter Gerber)

On Facebook, the FDNY posted touching images of the lieutenant's respectful discharge from the hospital on Thursday night.

The slain paramedic's flag-draped body was brought through the throng and put into the ambulance while dozens of emergency personnel saluted her.

FDNY Lt. Alison Russo-body Elling's is taken from the hospital by emergency personnel. (FDNY/Facebook)

Flags at state buildings in New York will be flown at half-staff in Russo-honor Elling's beginning at daybreak Friday, Sept. 30 and continuing until her burial ceremony concludes.

"We grieve the death of Alison Russo-Elling, an EMT Lieutenant slain on the job," Hochul said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with her family as we celebrate her life and remember her as a hero. I know all New Yorkers are appreciative for her work with the FDNY and as a World Trade Center first responder over the past two decades."

New York City firemen line the street as the procession carrying the body of FDNY paramedic Lt. Alison Russo-Elling, who was stabbed to death in the line of duty in Queens on Thursday, passes by. (Peter Gerber)

Russo-Elling joined the FDNY in March 1998 as an EMT and was promoted to paramedic in 2002, according to the department. In 2016, she received a promotion to lieutenant.

She worked at many EMS facilities throughout her career, including Station 20, Station 17, Station 16, Station 45, Queens Tactical Response Group, and Station 49.

On 9/11, Russo-Elling helped with rescue and cleanup activities at the World Trade Center.

On this position, she was utterly adored, according to Kavanagh. "Our department as a whole and her family break our hearts,"

Long Island was home to Russo-Elling. She leaves behind her parents and a daughter.

FDNY paramedic Lt. Alison Russo-body Elling's is being transported in an ambulance as it drives through a group of FDNY EMS workers. (Peter Gerber)

The dead paramedic is the 1,158th member of the FDNY to die in the line of duty.

Funeral arrangements have yet to be made public.