A judge has ruled a New York man accused of stabbing a veteran FDNY EMT last year is unfit to stand trial, according to the Queens Eagle.
Queens Supreme Court Justice Ira Margulis on Monday ruled Peter Zisopoulos must undergo another mental health exam by the end of next month.
Zisopoulos is accused of stabbing Capt. Alison Russo-Elling to death in an apparently random attack in September 2022.
The Queens Eagle reported Zisopoulos told the judge vindictive police officers created a fake video showing him repeatedly stabbing Russo-Elling to death. Zisopoulos reportedly was previously diagnosed with schizophrenia in the past.
Roughly two dozen FDNY members packed the courtroom to show support for their fallen colleague. Vincent Variale, the president of the Uniform EMS Officers Union Local 3621, told the newspaper he believes Zisopoulos is lying and is fit to stand trial.
Russo-Elling, a first responder on 9/11, had last been working with the Queens Tactical Response team in Station 49.
Margulis ordered Zisopoulos to be held in jail until a new mental health exam can be reviewed in court on Sept. 27.
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