A shocking incident on board the light rail in Charlotte, North Carolina, in which a Ukrainian refugee was fatally stabbed by a suspect with a lengthy rap sheet, has once again shone the spotlight on violent crime in cities, the justice system and President Donald Trump’s plans to use the federal government to counter it.
What happened
The unprompted attack happened shortly before 10 p.m. on Aug. 22. The victim, Iryna Zarutska, was a refugee from. Court documents with a video of the attack showed Zarutska entering the light rail train car and sitting down directly in front of the suspect.
“The train travels for approximately four and half minutes before the suspect pulls knife from his pocket, unfolds the knife, pauses, then stands up, and strikes at the victim three times,” a police detective wrote in an affidavit.
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“Blood visibly drips on the floor as the defendant walks away from the victim. The victim goes unresponsive shortly after the attack. The defendant is the assailant on the video. There appears to be no interaction between the victim and defendant,” the affidavit states.
Zarutska was pronounced dead at the scene.
Who was the victim
Zarutska, a 23-year-old refugee, fled Ukraine in 2022 with her immediate relatives due to the ongoing war. She war working at a pizzeria, and was wearing her uniform the night of the attack.
“Iryna will be remembered for her kindness, her creativity, and the lasting impression she left on everyone she met. Her absence leaves a deep void, but her spirit will forever remain in the hearts of those who loved her,” her obituary reads.
Her uncle called her “a sweet angel,” during a court appearance for the case.
Who is the attacker
The suspect, 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., has over a dozen charges dating back to 2014.
After the Aug. 22 attack, Brown was taken to the hospital to be treated for a laceration on the outside of his hand, but he is now in jail. He was charged with first-degree murder and is being held without bond. A judge ordered Brown to be evaluated for 60 days, and his next court appearance is on Sept. 19.
Brown’s criminal record includes armed robbery, felony larceny, breaking and entering, and shoplifting dating back to 2014, according to jail records reviewed by WBTV. He was jailed for five years for armed robbery. After he was released in 2020, he was arrested five months later for assault.
In court Friday, Zarutska’s uncle said, “The accused has taken a very bright, beautiful woman from our family, and we are heartbroken by that. I ask the court not to release him.”
The video of the attack spread in online circles over the weekend.
How officials have responded
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles offered her condolences and said she did not think it was appropriate to share video of the attack widely.
“The video of the heartbreaking attack that took Iryna Zarutska’s life is now public. I want to thank our media partners and community members who have chosen not to repost or share the footage out of respect for Iryna’s family,” she said.
“This was a senseless and tragic loss. My prayers remain with her loved ones as they continue to grieve through an unimaginable time,” the mayor said. “Like so many of you, I’m heartbroken — and I’ve been thinking hard about what safety really looks like in our city. I remain committed to doing all we can to protect our residents and ensure Charlotte is a place where everyone feels safe.”
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy criticized the mayor’s comments.
“Charlotte’s Mayor doesn’t want the media to show you the ugly truth. Why? Because she and other public officials in her city bear responsibility,” Duffy posted on social media.
Local and national Republicans leaders also accused the mayor of not doing enough to combat violent crime in the city. House Speaker Destin Hall tied the attack to “soft on crime” policies, and Rep. Mark Harris (R-NC) said “violence in Charlotte is a microcosm of a national epidemic.”
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President Donald Trump commented on the attack during a speech at the Religious Liberties Commission Monday morning.
“I give my love and hope to the family of the young woman who was stabbed in Charlotte by a madman — a lunatic — while she’s just sitting there. There are evil people. We have to be able to handle that. If we don’t handle that, we don’t have a country,” he said.