The fatal stabbing of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee, on a Charlotte light rail train has renewed concerns about crime and repeat offenders in U.S. cities, according to CBS News.
Police say Zarutska was randomly attacked on Aug. 22 by 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., who has a long criminal record and a history of psychiatric issues. He was arrested at the scene and charged with first-degree murder.
Recently released surveillance video shows Brown suddenly slashing Zarutska with a pocketknife as passengers fled in panic. Court records reveal he had 14 prior cases in Mecklenburg County, including prison time for armed robbery. His mother said she had sought psychiatric help for him earlier this year, when he was diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles called the killing «a senseless and tragic loss» and pointed to «a tragic failure by the courts and magistrates.»
The attack has drawn national attention. President Donald Trump condemned the «horrific video of a beautiful, young Ukrainian refugee… brutally ambushed by a mentally deranged lunatic,» criticizing cashless bail. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also blamed local leaders, saying Brown had «a track record longer than a CVS receipt.»
While violent crime overall has declined in Charlotte in recent years, homicides spiked by nearly 20% in 2024 before dropping again this year, according to AH Datalytics.
For Zarutska’s family, who described her as determined to build a safer life in the U.S., the tragedy underscores the painful irony of her journey to escape war in Ukraine.
