A 23-year-old refugee was fatally stabbed in a violent incident aboard a train, with police releasing chilling footage of the attack.
Iryna Zarutska, who had fled Ukraine following the Russian invasion ordered by Vladimir Putin on February 24, 2022, sought refuge in Charlotte, North Carolina, leaving her family behind for a fresh start. Tragically, on August 22, while on the South End light rail train in Charlotte, she was viciously attacked by a homeless man with a history of criminal behavior, who stabbed her in the neck.
Despite emergency responders’ efforts, Iryna was pronounced dead at the scene. The assailant, identified as Decarlos Brown Jr, a 35-year-old homeless man with a significant criminal record, was captured on surveillance cameras standing up with the bloody knife after the attack.
Following his arrest, Brown was charged with first-degree murder and denied bond by a judge, remaining in custody. Iryna’s devastated family, in a GoFundMe statement, revealed her aspirations for safety and a fresh start in the US before the tragic incident.
Brown’s criminal background includes a past armed robbery conviction in 2014, during which he served five years in prison. Additionally, he has faced multiple arrests for various offenses, with his latest crime being the most severe.
The incident has sparked concerns in the community, with Councilman Edwin Peacock highlighting the need for answers and a sense of safety among public transportation users. The tragic event has left many questioning the security of riding the light rail in the area.