A federal investigation has been initiated regarding the fatal stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina. Authorities have charged the suspect under federal transportation crime statutes.
Decarlos Brown Jr., age 34, faces charges for an act causing death on a mass transportation system for the incident on August 22, resulting in the death of the 23-year-old woman. The Justice Department announced federal charges on September 9, with Brown potentially facing life imprisonment without parole or the death penalty if convicted.
Surveillance footage from the Charlotte Area Transit System shows Zarutska boarding the Lynx Blue Line at 9:46 p.m. on August 22 at the East/West Boulevard station. She sat in front of Brown, who was wearing a red hoodie. An FBI complaint filed in U.S. District Court states that Brown took a knife from his pocket and unfolded it around 9:50 p.m., subsequently attacking the victim three times from behind.
The video captures Brown moving through the railcar post-attack, with apparent blood dripping as he walked away from Zarutska. Initially, fellow passengers seemed unaware of the situation before they rushed to assist the victim. She was later declared dead at the scene due to a single stab wound to her neck.
Brown was apprehended on the outbound LYNX Blue Line platform at the station where the incident took place. Investigators recovered a pocketknife and a red shirt with suspected blood stains at the scene. He was initially charged with first-degree murder at the state level.
Zarutska had moved to the United States from Ukraine in August 2022 with her family, fleeing the conflict with Russia. She had recently obtained a work permit and held jobs at a senior citizens center and a pizza establishment, while also caring for neighborhood pets. Additionally, she was attending community college to improve her English and had recently moved in with her partner.
On the night of her death, Zarutska was on her way home from her job at Zepeddie’s Pizzeria, still in her work attire. She had texted her partner to inform them that she was heading home. When she did not arrive in a timely manner, her family grew concerned and used her phone’s location to discover she remained at the station.
Brown’s criminal history spans over a decade, with 14 previous court cases in Mecklenburg County. His record includes convictions for felony breaking and entering, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and larceny since 2011. He served a five-year prison term for robbery with a dangerous weapon and was released in September 2020. Brown was arrested again in January 2025 for misusing the 911 system and appeared in court in July for that case.
Court records indicate that Brown has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and is homeless. He was ordered to undergo a competency evaluation for trial. U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson stated that more federal charges might be filed, noting that Brown was in state custody as of September 9.
A jailhouse audio recording between Brown and his sister, Tracey Brown, captures his fragmented explanation for attacking the victim. In the August 28 recording, six days after the incident, Brown claims something within his body drove him to take Iryna’s life.
“He said he was on his way to the hospital, the mental hospital… I just wanted to know why her, because he had been on the train for a while before she got on. And he said, Well, ‘she was reading my mind.’ He said, ‘she was reading my thoughts,’” Tracey recalled.
FBI Director Kash Patel labeled the attack as disgraceful, emphasizing the agency’s swift action to assist in the investigation to ensure justice is served. James C. Barnacle Jr., the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Charlotte Division, raised concerns about how Brown remained free despite numerous encounters with law enforcement, including his January arrest by Charlotte-Mecklenburg police.
Attorney General Pam Bondi described Zarutska as a young woman pursuing the American dream and directed federal prosecutors to seek the maximum penalty. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced an investigation into Charlotte for its failure to protect the victim and to examine other cities with high crime rates across the country.
President Donald Trump condemned the attack after reviewing the surveillance footage, describing it as horrible and questioning why the suspect was at large. Trump blamed cashless bail policies and Democratic officials for the incident.
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles initially faced criticism for her response, which highlighted issues related to mental health and homelessness. Following backlash, she acknowledged the need for legislative changes to keep repeat offenders off the streets and announced increased patrols within the transit system, along with plans to hire 30 additional security guards.
Zarutska’s family described her as kind and hardworking, cherished by family and close friends. A graduate of Synergy College in Kyiv with a degree in art and restoration, she aspired to become a veterinary assistant. Her employer remembered her as an outstanding employee and a true friend, whose passing represents a significant loss.
