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Ukrainian Refugee Stabbed to Death on North Carolina Light Rail
8 Sep
Summary
- Iryna Zarutska, 23, recently arrived in the U.S. seeking safety
- Stabbed to death on a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina
- Suspect Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, has history of mental illness and criminal convictions
On August 22, 2025, 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska was brutally stabbed to death on a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina. Zarutska had recently arrived in the U.S. seeking safety and a new beginning after fleeing her war-torn home country.
Surveillance footage released by the Charlotte Area Transit System shows Zarutska boarding the train just after 9:45 p.m. and sitting in front of a man in a red hoodie, who was acting strangely. The video then captures the suspect, 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., pulling a knife from his pocket, unfolding it, and striking Zarutska three times.
After the attack, Brown calmly exited the train at the next stop, while bystanders rushed to Zarutska's aid. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Brown, a homeless individual with a history of mental illness and criminal convictions, was arrested on August 28 and charged with first-degree murder.
The tragic incident has deeply impacted the local community, with Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles condemning the "senseless and tragic" attack. A GoFundMe campaign set up to support Zarutska's family has raised nearly $75,000, with a family friend describing her as a young woman seeking safety and new beginnings in the U.S.
