Surveillance footage has captured the final moments of a Ukrainian refugee who was stabbed to death on a light rail train in North Carolina. Iryna Zarutska, 23, had recently arrived in the United States seeking safety from the war in her homeland, according to a GoFundMe campaign set up to support her family.
The Charlotte Area Transit System released video showing Zarutska boarding the Lynx Blue Line on August 22 at the East/West Boulevard station. She sat in front of a man in a red hoodie who later pulled a knife, unfolded it, and struck her three times, according to a police affidavit. The attack lasted about four and a half minutes after boarding.
The suspect, Decarlos Brown Jr, 34, a homeless man, was arrested on August 28 and charged with first-degree murder. He is being held without bond and has been ordered to undergo a competency evaluation. Police said a folding knife was recovered near the platform where he exited.
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles condemned the “senseless and tragic” attack, saying her prayers remain with the victim’s loved ones. The GoFundMe campaign for Zarutska had raised nearly $75,000 by Monday. Meanwhile, GoFundMe removed fundraisers seeking to support Brown’s legal defence, citing its policy against raising money for those charged with violent crimes.
Brown has a history of mental illness, including schizophrenia, and a criminal record dating back to 2011, with convictions for robbery, larceny, and assault. He had been released from prison in 2020 and was arrested again in 2022 and earlier this year for misuse of the 911 system.
