Around 2:15 p.m. on September 29th, 2022, near the corner of 20th Avenue and Steinway Street, the life of FDNY EMS Lieutenant Alison Russo would come to an abrupt end. Peter Zisopoulos a neighborhood local is charged with stabbing Alison almost 20 times in an unprovoked attack. Hired on March 23rd, 1998, Alison would have been able to retire in 6 months, an achievement that most in the EMS profession never attain.
I didn't know Alison well, however our paths cross many times over the years. The first time I recall meeting her was on October 6th, 2007 at the scene of a gas explosion in the Harlem. As part of the FDNY's elite Rescue Medics, she would respond to some of the most challenge incidents bringing a unique set skills.
On this day should we assist in the Rescue of a family that was seriously injured by the explosion. The resulting fireball and collapse would take the life of a younger mother and for ever scar her young children. The First Responders did manage to save her 3 young kids, 1 of which would remain hospitalized for 10 long months.
While I was photographing the incident, I stopped and took a photo of Alison while she stood there in all of her rescue equipment, ready to help the next person. Having photographed many first responders over the years, I didn't think much of the photo. Looking to document the lives of out first responders, I always made a habit to not just photograph the incidents but the responders as well.
15 years after first meeting Alison, I would start getting messages saying an FDNY member was attacked while at work. Over next few hours, reports would come in that an FDNY EMS Lieutenant was attacked and killed. Photos began to appear on social media and on websites of various new agencies. My heart immediately broke when when I saw the photo of Alison that I had taken many years ago. I texted friends that I know in FDNY EMS with hopes that someone was sharing the wrong photo and that it wasn't true that this beautiful life was cut short in a senseless act. However, as much as I prayed that the news got the story wrong, they didn't.
Originally taken as a photograph to highlight the life of our responders, this photo has become a image of tragedy.
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