Ukrainian Refugee’s American Dream Ends in Brutal Train Stabbing

In a chilling tragedy, 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, who fled war-torn Ukraine seeking safety in the United States, was fatally stabbed on a Charlotte, North Carolina, light rail train. The horrifying attack, captured on surveillance footage released by the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) on September 5, 2025, has sparked outrage and raised concerns about public safety on the city’s transit system.

On August 22, 2025, at approximately 9:46 p.m., Zarutska boarded the Lynx Blue Line at the East/West Boulevard station, dressed in her pizzeria uniform. Unaware of the danger behind her, she sat down and began scrolling on her phone, wearing headphones. Seated directly behind her was 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., who, just four minutes later, pulled a folding knife from his pocket. In a sudden and unprovoked attack, Brown allegedly stabbed Zarutska three times, including at least once in the neck, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD).

The edited surveillance video, which omits the moment of the stabbing out of respect for Zarutska’s family, shows Brown calmly walking through the train car afterward, removing his red-orange sweatshirt as blood dripped from his body. Passengers, initially unaware of the attack, began to notice the blood as Zarutska clutched her neck in shock before collapsing in her seat. She was pronounced dead on the train at 10:05 p.m.

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Brown exited the train at the next stop, leaving behind a folding knife recovered by police near the platform. He was apprehended shortly after and treated for a laceration on his hand before being charged with first-degree murder. Court records reveal Brown’s extensive criminal history, dating back to 2011, with arrests for felony larceny, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and communicating threats. He served five years in prison for a robbery conviction and was arrested in January 2025 for misusing 911, claiming during a welfare check that a “man-made” material in his body controlled his actions.

Authorities have not disclosed a motive for the attack, which appears to have been random, as investigators confirmed Brown and Zarutska had no prior interaction. The surveillance footage shows Brown fidgeting and appearing restless before the attack, though his behavior did not initially alarm other passengers.

Zarutska, who arrived in the U.S. in 2022 seeking refuge from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, was described by her family as hopeful for a new beginning. A GoFundMe campaign, raising over $38,000, called her death an “irreparable loss,” highlighting the tragedy of her search for safety ending in violence.

The incident has intensified discussions about safety on Charlotte’s public transit. CATS has since announced plans to enhance security, including hiring a chief safety officer, upgrading cameras, and increasing police patrols. As the investigation continues, Zarutska’s story serves as a grim reminder of the challenges facing urban transit systems and the fragility of safety for those seeking a better life.

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