Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, fled the horrors of war in her homeland, seeking solace and a fresh start in the United States. Arriving in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2022 with her family, she carried an art degree from Kyiv and aspirations of becoming a veterinary assistant. Her days were spent working diligently at a local pizzeria, improving her English, and embracing the promise of a safer life. But on the evening of August 22, 2025, her dreams were violently extinguished in a senseless act that has left a community grieving and questioning the safety of its streets.
At 9:46 p.m., Iryna boarded the Lynx Blue Line light rail at the East/West Boulevard station in Charlotte’s South End, still dressed in her black pizzeria uniform. Surveillance footage captures her sitting down, engrossed in her phone, unaware of the danger lurking just behind her. Decarlos Brown Jr., a 34-year-old homeless man with a criminal history stretching back to 2011, sat fidgeting in his seat, his demeanor betraying no hint of the horror to come. Four minutes later, at 9:50 p.m., Brown pulled a folding knife from his red hoodie, stood, and lunged at Iryna. In a chilling six-second attack, he stabbed her three times, at least once in the throat, before calmly walking away as she clutched her neck, blood spilling onto the train floor. Iryna collapsed in her seat, her life slipping away as shocked passengers began to react. She was pronounced dead at the scene, a mere 30 seconds after the assault.
Brown, unfazed, wiped blood from his hand with his hoodie and exited the train at the next stop, leaving a trail of blood and a discarded knife on the platform. Police arrested him shortly after, and he was treated for a minor hand injury at Atrium Health before being charged with first-degree murder. Court records reveal Brown’s extensive criminal past, including convictions for robbery with a dangerous weapon, breaking and entering, felony larceny, and misuse of the 911 system. Released from prison in September 2020 after serving six years, he faced subsequent arrests for assault on a female in 2022 and, as recently as January 2025, for misusing 911 after claiming a “man-made material” controlled his actions. A court-ordered mental health evaluation was pending at the time of the attack, raising questions about his capacity to stand trial.
Iryna’s death has sparked outrage and sorrow, amplified by her story of survival and hope. Having escaped the Russian invasion of Ukraine, she sought refuge in a country she believed would protect her. “She ran from war in Ukraine. She came here for safety. And America failed her,” YouTuber Benny Johnson posted on X, echoing a sentiment that has resonated widely. A GoFundMe campaign, launched to support Iryna’s aunt Valeria and her family, has raised over $15,000, with her uncle describing her as “a sweet angel, a bright and beautiful woman” in a heartfelt plea to keep Brown behind bars. The fundraiser underscored the family’s devastation: “This is an irreparable loss. Ira had recently arrived in the United States, seeking safety from the war and hoping for a new beginning.”
The tragedy has also ignited a broader conversation about public safety on Charlotte’s transit system. Surveillance footage, released on September 5, 2025, by the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), has been edited to omit the graphic moment of the stabbing out of respect for Iryna’s family. Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles called the incident a “senseless and tragic loss,” expressing heartbreak and a commitment to ensuring safety for all residents. Yet, CATS leadership, including interim CEO Brent Cagle, has faced scrutiny, with critics questioning how a known repeat offender like Brown, who reportedly did not purchase a ticket, gained access to the train. Eric Osnes, CATS chief safety officer, described the attack as a “horrific random act” that showed no prior warning signs, noting Brown’s calm demeanor before the assault made it nearly impossible to prevent.
Local leaders, including City Councilmember Dimple Ajmera and councilman Edwin Peacock, have demanded action to restore confidence in the transit system. “The trust between South End and Uptown is very fragile right now,” Peacock stated, emphasizing the need for answers for Iryna’s family and the community. Meanwhile, Brown remains in custody without bond, with a judge ordering a competency evaluation to determine his mental fitness for trial. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department continues its investigation, withholding the motive for the attack, which they believe was unprovoked, as Iryna and Brown had no prior interaction.
Iryna Zarutska’s journey from war-torn Ukraine to a Charlotte train car ended in a tragedy that has left her family, friends, and a city searching for meaning. Her story, one of resilience and hope cut short, serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of safety and the urgent need for accountability in the face of unchecked violence. As her loved ones mourn, they hold fast to her memory, urging that her death not be in vain but a catalyst for change in a community shaken to its core.