Ukrainian Refugee Fatally Stabbed on U.S. Metro, Suspect Arrested

Deadly Attack Caught on Surveillance Video

Surveillance footage released on 5 September by a WBTV report shows the moments before and after the fatal stabbing of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska on Charlotte’s Lynx Blue Line.

On 22 August at around 9:50 p.m., an attacker stabbed her multiple times, including once in the throat, and she died on the train.

The suspect, identified as 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., was quickly arrested.

He has since been charged with first-degree murder and ordered to remain in jail pending a competency evaluation.

Minutes Between Boarding and the Killing

The edited surveillance video shows Zarutska boarding the train at 9:46 p.m. and sitting directly in front of Brown, who appeared agitated. Within four minutes, Brown unfolded a pocket knife and launched the deadly assault.

By 9:52 p.m., fellow passengers rushed to render aid as Zarutska collapsed to the floor.

Roughly 30 seconds later, Brown exited the train at the next stop, where he discarded clothing before being located and detained by authorities.

Public Officials and Community Reactions

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles called the stabbing a “senseless and tragic loss” in a statement posted on X on September 6.

She urged the public not to circulate the graphic video out of respect for Zarutska’s family. Lyles also emphasized renewed focus on safety across the city’s transit systems.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy added that Brown’s lengthy criminal record reflected systemic failures in public safety and justice.

The Troubled History of Decarlos Brown Jr.

Brown is homeless and has spent much of his adult life in and out of prison. Court records show convictions dating back to 2011 for robbery with a dangerous weapon, felony larceny, and communicating threats. He served five years behind bars for armed robbery before authorities released him in September 2020.

Police then arrested him for assaulting his sister. In January 2025, authorities charged him with misusing the 911 system after he made bizarre claims about “man-made” material controlling his body.

Fundraising for the Accused Shut Down

In early September, screenshots surfaced showing GoFundMe pages created to support Brown. On 8 September, GoFundMe confirmed the campaigns had been removed and donations refunded. The platform explained that its policies prohibit fundraisers for individuals formally charged with violent crimes.

One unverified comment on a deleted page suggested Brown had been failed by the judicial and mental health systems, though this did not override platform rules.

GoFundMe Launched for Slain Refugee

Meanwhile, friends and relatives of Zarutska, who had fled Ukraine in 2023 seeking safety in the United States, created their own fundraising campaign. The page aims to cover funeral expenses and provide support for her grieving family.

Online tributes highlighted her resilience and tragic fate after escaping war only to be killed in Charlotte. Her death continues to stir anger and sorrow both locally and internationally.

Find the GoFundMe here.

Watch the harrowing incident unfold here: