The family of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska is demanding accountability after her brutal killing on a Charlotte light rail train, a crime that has reignited debate over public safety failures in the city. Zarutska, who had fled the war in Ukraine seeking peace in the United States, was fatally stabbed last month in what authorities describe as a random attack. The suspect, 34-year-old repeat offender Decarlos Brown Jr., allegedly sat behind Zarutska for several minutes before pulling out a knife and stabbing her repeatedly in front of horrified passengers. The assault was caught on video, which quickly circulated online.
Her grieving relatives, represented by attorneys, issued a statement calling the killing a “systemic failure.” “We are heartbroken beyond words. Iryna came here to find peace and safety, and instead her life was stolen in the most horrific way,” the family said, urging prosecutors to ensure Brown faces the harshest punishment possible. They also appealed to the public and media not to share the graphic footage of the murder, stressing the need to preserve Zarutska’s dignity.
Zarutska’s family said the tragedy highlights broader lapses in Charlotte’s justice system. Even Brown’s own brother, Jeremiah, told local media the crime might have been avoided if repeat offenders were dealt with properly. Brown, who has a lengthy history of violent crime, is now facing both state and federal charges. The U.S. Justice Department on Tuesday charged him with committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system, adding to the local murder charges already filed.
U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi condemned the killing in strong terms, vowing to pursue the maximum penalty. “Iryna Zarutska was a young woman living the American dream — her horrific murder is a direct result of failed soft-on-crime policies that put criminals before innocent people,” Bondi said in a statement. “We will ensure DeCarlos Brown Jr. never again sees the light of day as a free man.”
The crime has shaken Charlotte’s Ukrainian community and raised questions about how a refugee who came seeking safety could fall victim to such a senseless act. For Zarutska’s family, justice now means not only prosecuting the man accused of killing her, but also addressing what they describe as systemic breakdowns in the city’s public safety net.
