A 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee was fatally stabbed on a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina, according to authorities. Iryna Zarutska, who had recently arrived in the United States seeking safety from the war, was attacked at the East/West Boulevard light rail station in South End.
Surveillance footage released by the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) shows Zarutska boarding the train at 9:46 p.m. in her pizzeria uniform, seated and engrossed in her phone. Four minutes later, 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr. allegedly pulled a folding knife and stabbed her three times, including once in the neck, police said. The video captures Zarutska clutching her neck as blood pooled on the floor before collapsing and being pronounced dead.
Brown, who was injured during the attack, fled the scene but was later arrested. Authorities stated he faces first-degree murder charges. Brown has a prior criminal record, including larceny, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and communicating threats.
A GoFundMe established for Zarutska’s family described her as someone “seeking a new beginning” after fleeing conflict. The fundraiser called the tragedy an “irreparable loss.”
The incident occurred on the Lynx Blue Line at approximately 9:50 p.m. on August 22. Passengers reported seeing blood dripping from Brown as he moved through the train before exiting at the next stop.