CHARLOTTE, N.C. – September 8, 2025 – In a heartbreaking incident that has ignited widespread debate over public transit safety, 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska was fatally stabbed in a random attack aboard a Charlotte light rail train last month. The unprovoked assault, captured on chilling surveillance video, has prompted calls for urgent reforms to address vulnerabilities in the city’s mass transit system and broader issues in mental health and criminal justice support.
Zarutska, who fled the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 seeking a fresh start in America, had settled in Charlotte and was building a new life. Born in Kyiv on May 22, 2002, she held an art degree from a local college and was diligently learning English while working toward her dream of becoming a veterinary assistant.
On the evening of August 22, 2025, the young woman was riding the Lynx Blue Line home from her shift at a local pizzeria, dressed in her work uniform and lost in her phone with headphones on, when tragedy struck. Around 9:55 p.m. at the East/West Boulevard station, Zarutska boarded the train and sat unaware of the danger lurking behind her. Surveillance footage released by the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) shows 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., a homeless man with a lengthy criminal history, seated in the row behind her.
Four minutes into the ride, Brown suddenly pulled out a pocketknife, grabbed Zarutska by the head, and stabbed her three times in the neck in a swift and brutal attack. She collapsed to the floor just 30 seconds later, bleeding profusely as horrified passengers looked on. Brown, appearing calm, wiped blood from his hand, removed his red hoodie, and exited the train two minutes after the assault, blending into the night.
First responders arrived quickly, but Zarutska was pronounced dead at the scene from her wounds. Police have described the attack as completely random, with no prior connection between the victim and suspect.
Brown was apprehended shortly afterward and taken to Atrium Health Carolinas for treatment of an unrelated injury before being formally charged with first-degree murder. Court records reveal a troubled past for the suspect, including multiple arrests over the past decade for felony larceny, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and communicating threats – crimes that highlight ongoing challenges in recidivism and support for individuals experiencing homelessness.
The release of the surveillance video last week has amplified public outrage, with social media flooded by reactions decrying the “senseless and tragic” loss of a young woman who had already endured the horrors of war only to meet violence in her adopted home.
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles expressed deep sorrow in a statement, emphasizing the need for compassion toward Zarutska’s grieving family and respect for their privacy during this difficult time. “This was a young woman full of promise, seeking safety and opportunity in our city,” Lyles said. “We must do better to ensure that promise is protected.”
The killing has exposed what many see as a deepening safety crisis on Charlotte’s public transit. City Councilman Edwin Peacock has called for an immediate joint review of security protocols by CATS and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), pointing to the incident as a stark example of systemic failures.
Critics, including Republican state Rep. Brenden Jones, have blamed “decades of Democrat DAs and sheriffs prioritizing agendas over public safety,” arguing that lenient policies allow violent offenders to roam freely, leaving families in fear.
Broader discussions have emerged around gaps in Mecklenburg County’s mental health services and the criminal justice system, with advocates urging investments to prevent such tragedies. In response, CATS announced plans to enhance security, including increasing fare inspections, installing new ticket validators at stations, and expanding staffing for patrols. The train operator in this case followed protocol by holding the train until police arrived, but questions remain about why the attack unfolded so rapidly in a supposedly monitored environment.
Zarutska’s story has resonated internationally, given her refugee background, drawing coverage from outlets across the globe and underscoring the irony of a war escapee falling victim to urban violence in the U.S.
As the investigation continues and Brown awaits trial, Charlotte’s leaders face mounting pressure to turn this heartbreak into meaningful change. For now, the city mourns a life cut short, a reminder that safety remains an elusive goal for many in America’s transit hubs.
