Ukrainian refugee’s stabbing death on North Carolina train caught on video
A tragic and horrifying incident unfolded on a Charlotte light rail train when a homeless ex-con allegedly stabbed a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee to death in a random attack. Iryna Zarutska, who had fled war-torn Ukraine for a safer life in America, was on the Lynx Blue Line on the night of August 22 when she was ambushed by 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr.
Surveillance footage released by the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) shows Zarutska boarding the train in her pizzeria uniform and sitting down, unaware of the danger lurking behind her. Just four minutes later, Brown allegedly pulled out a folding knife and lunged at Zarutska, stabbing her multiple times, including in the neck. The chilling video captures the moments of the attack and the aftermath as Brown calmly walks through the rail car, stripping off his sweatshirt as blood drips from him.
Zarutska, clutching her neck as blood spilled onto the train floor, tragically collapsed in her seat and was pronounced dead on the light rail. Brown then got off at the next stop, where a folding knife was later recovered near the platform. He was treated for a cut on his hand before being taken into custody on a murder charge.
Brown, with a criminal record dating back to 2011 including charges of larceny, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and communicating threats, has a troubled past. He has served time in prison for a robbery with a deadly weapon charge and has been arrested multiple times. In a bizarre incident earlier this year, Brown was charged with misusing 911 after claiming that a “man-made” material inside his body was controlling him.
The tragic loss of Zarutska, who had recently arrived in the U.S. seeking safety and a fresh start, has deeply impacted her family and community. A GoFundMe campaign set up by her family has raised over $38,000 to support them during this difficult time. The investigation into the motive behind the attack continues as police work to uncover the details surrounding this senseless tragedy.
In response to this incident, CATS has taken steps to enhance safety and security measures on public transit, including hiring a chief safety and security officer, increasing the safety budget, and upgrading surveillance cameras. The Charlotte City Council is set to consider a plan to expand police patrols on buses and trains in an effort to prevent such tragic events from happening in the future. The release of the surveillance video has shed light on the need for improved safety measures and vigilance on public transportation systems.
