Shocking body camera footage has revealed the extent of a murder suspect's mental health crisis eight months before he allegedly stabbed a Ukrainian refugee to death on a packed commuter train.
Desperate Pleas for Help
Newly released police footage from January 19 this year shows DeCarlos Brown Jr, 35, pacing anxiously along a sidewalk as he begged officers for assistance, claiming he had lost control of his own body. "Someone has exposed me to man-made material; there are voices in my head controlling me," Brown told the responding officers in North Carolina.
The visibly distressed man explained his bizarre symptoms to police, growing increasingly frustrated when they suggested he seek medical attention at a hospital. "If I get an MRI and they see what it is, what they gonna say? We gotta get surgery and get that out so we can investigate what the f*** that is," Brown responded angrily.
Arrest Instead of Treatment
Despite clear signs of psychological distress, police warned Brown he would be arrested if he called 911 again with the same complaint. When he immediately called dispatch while still in the officers' presence, they took him into custody. "Put your hands behind your back. You're being arrested for misuse of 911," an officer told him.
Court records show Brown was charged with misuse of the 911 system and released without bail. His mother later revealed to WSOC that her son had been arrested more than a dozen times and was suffering from serious mental health issues.
She disclosed that after serving five years in prison for armed robbery, Brown "started saying weird things" following his release in 2020. A psychiatrist diagnosed him with schizophrenia after a two-week evaluation. Although Brown initially lived with his mother after psychiatric hold, she eventually had to evict him due to aggressive behaviour, leaving him homeless.
Fatal Attack on Commuter Train
Eight months after his encounter with police, on August 22, authorities allege Brown repeatedly stabbed 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska with a pocket knife from behind while aboard a Lynx Blue Line train in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Disturbing surveillance footage shows the suspect watching Zarutska for some time after she sat in the row in front of him. He then retrieved what appeared to be a blade from his pocket, stood up and loomed over the Ukrainian refugee, swinging the knife at her as she sat using her phone.
The attack unfolded so discreetly that other passengers didn't immediately realise what had happened. Video shows Zarutska curling up with her knees against her chest and her hands over her mouth while looking up at her attacker. Approximately 15 seconds later, she collapsed to the floor.
Only then did passengers begin making frantic calls to police while bystanders attempted to stop the bleeding by applying pressure to her wounds.
Legal Consequences and Political Fallout
Brown has since been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of violence against a railroad carrier and mass transportation system resulting in death. The indictment notes he could be eligible for the death penalty based on his prior 2015 conviction for robbery with a dangerous weapon.
The senseless murder has become a political flashpoint, with former President Donald Trump condemning the killing in an Oval Office address on September 9. "For far too long, Americans have been forced to put up with Democrat-run cities that set loose savage, bloodthirsty criminals to prey on innocent people," Trump stated.
In addition to federal charges, Brown faces first-degree murder charges at the state level. Both crimes can now be punished with life imprisonment or the death penalty after North Carolina Governor Josh Stein signed a bill into law earlier this month reinstating capital punishment in the state.
The new legislation, entitled 'Iryna's Law', also aims to end cashless bail and expedite death penalty cases. Governor Stein signed it into law on October 3, though he expressed concerns about a provision allowing death by firing squad, which he described as "barbaric" and vowed not to implement during his tenure.
Brown remains behind bars as he awaits trial, while Zarutska's tragic death highlights ongoing concerns about mental health treatment and public safety.
