Federal charge filed in Charlotte train stabbing of Ukrainian refugee
A new federal charge has been filed against the man accused of fatally stabbing a Ukrainian refugee last month on a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina
(NBC)- A new federal charge has been filed against the man accused of fatally stabbing a Ukrainian refugee last month on a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Surveillance video captured the attack, showing 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska being repeatedly stabbed as she sat on the train. U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson, holding back tears, described how Zarutska had fled the war in Ukraine, where she once lived in a bomb shelter, only to be brutally killed while returning home from work.
The FBI said Zarutska quickly secured a work permit after arriving in the U.S., finding jobs at a senior center and a pizza restaurant. She had recently moved in with her partner and was building a new life.
The suspect, Decarlos Brown Jr., had already been charged with murder at the state level. He now faces a federal count of committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system.
President Trump condemned the killing, pointing to Brown’s lengthy criminal history, including a conviction for armed robbery and more than a dozen prior arrests. He blamed Democrats for supporting cashless bail policies, saying: “She was slaughtered by a deranged monster who was roaming free after 14 prior arrests.”
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced his department is investigating and warned that the administration may withhold federal funds if local authorities fail to strengthen transit security. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said: “Tragically, the public transportation system in a major American city was more dangerous than the active war zone she left.”
Charlotte’s Democratic mayor confirmed the city will increase security on its light rail system. City Council member Malcolm Graham added that addressing gun violence, police shortages, and mental health as a public health crisis must also be part of the solution.
