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Published 08:53 02 Oct 2025 GMT
Frantic 911 calls captured the harrowing aftermath of a deadly stabbing aboard a Charlotte, North Carolina, light rail train that left 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska dead.
IZarutska, a young woman who fled the war in Ukraine with her family in search of safety, was tragically killed on August 22, 2025.
Security footage shared online showed the moment the suspect, identified as 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., suddenly jumped from his seat and stabbed Zarutska three times in the middle of her throat.
She curled up defensively with her knees to her chest and hands over her mouth, looking up at him.
Within 15 seconds, she collapsed to the floor.
Witnesses described Brown calmly walking through the train with a folding knife dripping with blood.
Officers recovered the weapon near the outbound platform and found the accused killer nearby, wearing clothes that matched descriptions and nursing a cut on his hand.
He was taken into custody and hospitalized for evaluation.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers boarded the train near 1821 Camden Road and found Zarutska unresponsive.
Emergency responders pronounced her dead at 10:05PM.
Five 911 calls were placed in the immediate aftermath. In one, a woman told the dispatcher: “This man f***ing stabbed her for no reason,” as sobbing echoed in the background.
Another caller said, “This lady just got stabbed… I don’t think she’s responsive.
"There is a lot of blood.”
“She was stabbed in the carotid, I believe,” the caller added.
“There is no pulse. I think she’s gone.”
Callers described the suspect as a Black man with dreadlocks, wearing a black T-shirt and blue jeans, with his hand wrapped up.
One caller added: “Everyone is screaming. People are freaking out.”
Brown, a career criminal with diagnosed schizophrenia, has spent much of his adult life in and out of prison.
He served five years for a 2014 armed robbery and was most recently arrested in January for misusing 911 during a welfare check.
At that time, he had told police about “man-made” materials in his body controlling his behavior - similar to what he told his sister Tracy in a jailhouse phone call after the stabbing.
“I hurt my hand, stabbing her. I don’t even know the lady,” Brown said on August 28, per Daily Mail. “Why would somebody stab somebody for no reason?”
Tracey asked: “Out of all people, why her? She’s from the Ukraine, she’s from Russia, and they had a war going on against the United States, so I’m just trying to understand, of all people, why her?"
Brown responded: “They just lashed out on her, that’s what happened.
"Whoever was working the materials, they lashed out on her.
"That’s all there is to it. Now they really gotta investigate what my body was exposed to...
"Now they gotta do an investigation as to who was the motive behind what happened.”
His sister shared that she's not "blaming anyone for his actions, except for the state,” adding: “I’m blaming the state for letting him down as far as seeking help.”
The attack has drawn sharp criticism from conservative leaders, with President Donald Trump calling Zarutska’s killing an example of failure in Democrat-run cities.
“In Charlotte, North Carolina, we saw the results of these policies when a 23-year-old woman who came here from Ukraine met her bloody end on a public train,” he said.
Brown has been charged with first-degree murder at the state level and one federal count of causing death on a mass transportation system.
Both charges carry the possibility of life imprisonment or the death penalty.
“We hope this federal charge will help bring her family a measure of justice,” said Barnacle, per Fox News.
“Everyone in this country deserves to go to work, to school or just across town without fear of being attacked.”
Published 13:28 10 Sep 2025 GMT
New information about the tragic death of Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee who was fatally stabbed while riding a train in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been released.
Iryna, 23, was riding the train home from her job at a local pizzeria on the evening of August 22, 2025, when she was attacked by 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., a career criminal with a history of mental health struggles.
Just four minutes after taking her seat, Iryna was stabbed multiple times in a brutal and unprovoked attack while she sat unsuspectingly, scrolling through her phone. Brown struck from behind with a pocket knife, delivering three fatal blows to her neck and hands.
Surveillance footage of the attack, released by police, shows Brown sitting behind Iryna for several minutes before rising and lunging at her with the knife. The video also captures him casually walking through the train carriage with a knife dripping with her blood.
“Iryna came here to find peace and safety, and instead her life was stolen from her in the most horrific way,” Zarutska’s family said in a statement. “No family should have to go through this.”
The late woman's loved ones have also expressed their grief and frustration over the failure of the justice system, highlighting Brown’s extensive criminal history, which includes 14 prior arrests.
Despite his struggles with schizophrenia, the man was released from jail earlier this year under lenient conditions, which some believe contributed to the tragic outcome.
Before moving to Charlotte, Iryna, along with her mother, sister, and brother, had fled the war in Ukraine in search of a fresh start.
Her family described her as a "gifted and passionate artist" who had embraced her new life in the U.S. with enthusiasm. She had quickly learned English and was hopeful for a brighter future when she posted a photograph of Charlotte's skyline just nine days before her death.
Iryna had graduated from Synergy College in Kyiv with a degree in Art and Restoration and had a deep love for animals, dreaming of becoming a veterinary assistant. While working at Zepeddie’s pizzeria to support herself, she also volunteered to care for her neighbors' pets, often seen walking them with her radiant smile.
Her family fondly remembers her creativity, kindness, and love for life. “She shared her creativity generously, gifting family and friends with her artwork,” they wrote in her obituary. “She loved sculpting and designing unique, eclectic clothing that reflected her vibrant spirit," per Daily Mail.
Despite her many adventures and love for exploring new places, Iryna was happiest when surrounded by family and loved ones.
The tragic attack has sparked an outpouring of grief from those who knew her, including her colleagues at Zepeddie’s, who described her as not just a talented employee but a true friend.
“We lost not only an incredible employee but a true friend,” the restaurant said in a tribute. “Our dear Iryna left this world far too soon, and our hearts are heavy with grief.”
In the wake of Iryna’s death, Brown has been charged with first-degree murder. On Tuesday, federal charges were added to his case, as the attack occurred on a mass transportation system.
The new charges carry severe penalties, including the possibility of life in prison without the possibility of parole or even the death penalty.
Jeremiah Brown, Decarlos’s brother, spoke out about the tragedy and his belief that the murder might have been prevented.
“I think they could have pretty much prevented it,” he said, expressing sympathy for the victim’s family while also condemning his brother’s actions.
As the investigation continues, Iryna's family remains determined to see justice served. “Iryna’s absence leaves a deep void, but her spirit will forever remain in the hearts of those who loved her,” her loved ones concluded.
Published 08:46 12 Sep 2025 GMT
A 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee who fled war for a new life in the U.S. was brutally stabbed to death on a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Iryna Zarutska had resettled in the U.S. with dreams of becoming a veterinary assistant and was known as a “gifted and passionate artist.”
But on August 22, 2025, her life was cut short in a shocking public killing.
Surveillance footage revealed that Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, sat behind Zarutska on the train in Charlotte’s South End neighborhood before suddenly launching a violent attack with a pocketknife.
She was stabbed multiple times, including three times in the neck and hands.
About 30 seconds later, she collapsed.
Brown, who calmly walked away with blood still dripping from the knife, was arrested shortly after exiting the train and has been charged with first-degree murder.
Zarutska was pronounced dead on the scene.
Zarutska had become fluent in English, worked at Zepeddie’s pizzeria, and was remembered by her family as a warm and compassionate soul.
Her obituary read: “She will be remembered for her kindness, her creativity, and the lasting impression she left on everyone she met," adding, "Her absence leaves a deep void, but her spirit will forever remain in the hearts of those who loved her."
In a statement issued through lawyers, her family said: “We are heartbroken beyond words.
"Iryna came here to find peace and safety, and instead, her life was stolen from her in the most horrific way.
"No family should have to go through this.”
Brown, a homeless man with a long criminal record, has been arrested at least 14 times since 2011, per NDTV.
Charges against him have included felony larceny, armed robbery, assault, breaking, and making threats, according to the NY Post.
He served a five-year sentence for armed robbery in 2014 and was released in September 2020.
Within five months, he was arrested again - this time for assaulting his own sister, Tracey, at her home in Charlotte.
In January of this year, Brown made a string of bizarre emergency 911 calls, claiming a “man-made material” was controlling his body and affecting basic functions like walking, eating, and speaking.
Officers told him it was a medical issue and there was “nothing further they could do,” according to an affidavit.
Despite the pattern of arrests and concerning behavior, Brown remained free and unsupervised at the time of the murder.
In a recorded jailhouse phone call to his sister on August 28, Brown revealed a disturbing lack of remorse and understanding about the crime.
“I hurt my hand, stabbing her. I don’t even know the lady. I never said not one word to the lady at all.
"That’s scary, ain’t it?
"Why would somebody stab somebody for no reason?”
When Tracey asked him why he targeted Zarutska, Brown replied: “They just lashed out on her, that’s what happened. Whoever was working the materials, they lashed out on her.
"That’s all there is to it. Now they really gotta investigate what my body was exposed to...
"Now they gotta do an investigation as to who was the motive behind what happened.”
Tracey Brown, who survived a violent attack by her brother in 2022, said he had long suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and believed he had a government chip implanted in him.
“A person that is hearing voices in their head and believes the world is against them, they’re going to break. And I think that night he broke,” she told PEOPLE.
She added: “He was a high risk. He was not in his right mind. He was not safe for society.
"We know what he has been dealing with the last three years. And now an innocent woman is dead.”
Their mother also attempted to place Brown in long-term mental care, but was unable to because she wasn’t his legal guardian.
“He was seeking help. He called 911 multiple times. Instead of talking to him, they thought charging him was going to help,” Tracey said.
The case has drawn sharp political attention.
President Donald Trump took to Truth Social, writing: “The ANIMAL who so violently killed the beautiful young lady from Ukraine, who came to America searching for peace and safety, should be given a ‘Quick’ (there is no doubt!) Trial, and only awarded THE DEATH PENALTY. There can be no other option!!!”
Trump also blamed Democratic policies and former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, now a Senate candidate, saying: “North Carolina, and every State, needs LAW AND ORDER, and only Republicans will deliver it!
"Additionally, where is the outrage from the Mainstream Media on this horrible tragedy? VOTE FOR MICHAEL WHATLEY FOR UNITED STATES SENATE, HE WON’T LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN!”
Tesla CEO Elon Musk echoed those sentiments, stating: “Death penalty cases where there is unequivocal guilt should move forward immediately.”
Published 09:11 10 Sep 2025 GMT
The family of Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, is speaking out after she was fatally stabbed on a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina, last month.
The brutal murder, captured on surveillance footage, has left her family devastated and demanding justice for the young woman whose life was taken in a senseless attack.
Zarutska’s life was ended by 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., a repeat offender with a history of mental health issues. The incident, which occurred in late August 2025, has sparked outrage as her family calls attention to the broader issues of public safety and systemic failures in the local justice system.
In a statement released on Tuesday, a spokesperson for Zarutska's family expressed their profound grief. “We are heartbroken beyond words. Iryna came here to find peace and safety, and instead her life was stolen from her in the most horrific way,” they said, per WSOC-9. “No family should have to go through this.”
Brown, who has been arrested 14 times prior to the murder, was released from jail earlier this year under questionable conditions. Despite his history of criminal behavior and known struggles with schizophrenia, a magistrate judge set his release terms so lax that he was able to walk free in January. Zarutska’s relatives believe the tragedy could have been avoided had authorities acted differently.
Jeremiah Brown, Decarlos's brother, also spoke about the tragedy and his belief that the murder might have been prevented. “I think they could have pretty much prevented it then,” he said, referring to the judge’s decision to release Decarlos despite his extensive criminal record. “I hope they get the support they need,” Jeremiah added, expressing sympathy for the victim's family while also calling for accountability.
The shocking footage of the attack shows Brown sitting behind Zarutska for several minutes before standing up, unsheathing a knife, and stabbing her multiple times. The brutality of the murder has left the Charlotte community reeling. “He could do it again,” Jeremiah warned, emphasizing that although his brother needs treatment for his mental health issues, there must be consequences for his actions. “I think he should suffer the consequences.”
The family is also urging the public and the media to respect Zarutska's dignity by refraining from sharing the graphic footage of her death, which has been circulating online.
In addition to local charges, Decarlos Brown Jr. now faces federal charges related to the murder, as he committed the crime on a mass transportation system. The Justice Department filed the charges on Tuesday, adding another layer to the case as authorities seek to hold him accountable for his actions.
This tragic incident has drawn attention to larger issues within the local justice system, with critics pointing to the lenient release of repeat offenders as a contributing factor. As the investigation continues, Zarutska’s family is determined to see justice served and to bring attention to the flaws that allowed this tragedy to unfold.
Published 10:50 11 Sep 2025 GMT
The man accused of fatally stabbing a Ukrainian refugee, Iryna Zarutska, on a train has revealed his chilling explanation for the brutal attack in a recorded jailhouse call.
Zarutska, a 23-year-old woman who fled the war in Ukraine with her family in search of safety, was tragically killed on a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina, on August 22, 2025.
Surveillance footage released by police shows Decarlos Brown Jr. sitting behind Zarutska for several minutes before suddenly lunging forward and stabbing her three times in the neck and hands with a pocket knife.
He then walked calmly through the carriage with the blade dripping blood.
After moving to the US, Zarutska became fluent in English, worked at Zepeddie’s pizzeria, and dreamed of becoming a veterinary assistant while sharing her creativity as a “gifted and passionate artist.”
Her heartbroken family wrote in her obituary that she will be "remembered for her kindness, her creativity, and the lasting impression she left on everyone she met," adding: "Her absence leaves a deep void, but her spirit will forever remain in the hearts of those who loved her."
They also shared in a statement issued by lawyers: “We are heartbroken beyond words. Iryna came here to find peace and safety, and instead, her life was stolen from her in the most horrific way. No family should have to go through this.”
Brown was arrested shortly after the attack and has since been charged with first-degree murder, as well as federal charges that could bring life imprisonment or the death penalty.
President Donald Trump has demanded capital punishment: “The ANIMAL who so violently killed the beautiful young lady from Ukraine, who came to America searching for peace and safety, should be given a ‘Quick’ (there is no doubt!) Trial, and only awarded THE DEATH PENALTY. There can be no other option!!!”
Trump also said Zarutska's “blood is on the hands of the Democrats who refuse to put bad people in jail," and specifically blamed former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper, now a Senate candidate in North Carolina, saying state policies allowed violent offenders to remain free.
According to The Independent, he added: “North Carolina, and every State, needs LAW AND ORDER, and only Republicans will deliver it! Additionally, where is the outrage from the Mainstream Media on this horrible tragedy? VOTE FOR MICHAEL WHATLEY FOR UNITED STATES SENATE, HE WON’T LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN!”
From jail, Brown gave a chilling explanation for the killing in a call to his sister Tracey.
“I hurt my hand, stabbing her. I don’t even know the lady. I never said not one word to the lady at all. That’s scary, ain’t it. Why would somebody stab somebody for no reason?” he said in the recorded call from August 28, obtained by the Daily Mail.
Tracey asked: “Out of all people, why her? She’s from the Ukraine, she’s from Russia, and they had a war going on against the United States, so I’m just trying to understand, of all people, why her?”
Brown responded: “They just lashed out on her, that’s what happened. Whoever was working the materials, they lashed out on her. That’s all there is to it. Now they really gotta investigate what my body was exposed to... Now they gotta do an investigation as to who was the motive behind what happened.”
Tracey, who was attacked by her brother in 2022, said he is a paranoid schizophrenic who often claimed the government implanted a chip in him. “A person that is hearing voices in their head and believes the world is against them, they’re going to break. And I think that night he broke,” she said, per PEOPLE.
She said Brown’s decline worsened after he was released from prison in 2022 following a robbery conviction. In January, he called 911 to claim his brain was being controlled by a microchip. Instead of treatment, he was arrested for “misuse of the 911 system” and later granted cashless bail.
“He was a high risk. He was not in his right mind. He was not safe for society. We know what he has been dealing with the last three years. And now an innocent woman is dead,” Tracey said.
Tracey's mother added that she had tried to place Brown in a long-term mental care facility, but couldn’t because she was not his legal guardian.
“He was seeking help. He called 911 multiple times. Instead of talking to him, they thought charging him was going to help,” Tracey added.
Zarutska’s relatives are now calling not only for justice, but also for systemic change. They urged prosecutors to lock up Brown and address what they described as a “broader crisis in public safety and systemic failure".
Published 09:39 12 Sep 2025 GMT
The boyfriend of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska has publicly shared his grief and criticized the magistrate judge who allowed her alleged killer to be released before her fatal attack on a Charlotte train.
Stanislav “Stas” Nikulytsia, 21, posted a photo of himself and Zarutska in bathing suits on Instagram on Wednesday, along with a simple broken heart emoji — marking his first public statement since Zarutska’s murder.
In his Instagram stories, Nikulytsia reposted clips attacking Magistrate Judge Teresa Stokes, who released Decarlos Brown on cashless bail seven months before the fatal stabbing on August 22. One of the stories claimed Stokes was not even a qualified lawyer.
Brown, described as a career criminal with more than a dozen previous arrests, was released in January on a “written promise” to appear at a future court date.
Nikulytsia, who had been living with Zarutska in Charlotte for the past year and was referred to as her “life partner” in her obituary, also changed his Instagram bio to a mushroom emoji, a favorite of Zarutska’s, along with a broken heart.
Zarutska’s family shared that they became concerned when she did not arrive home on time, with her phone location indicating she was still at the station. They said: "That night, she texted her boyfriend that she would be home soon. Upon arriving at the station, they were devastated to learn that Iryna had died at the scene."
Zarutska fled Ukraine in August 2022 with her mother and two younger siblings. In the three years since, her family said she built strong foundations in the United States, touching the lives of those around her. An uncle recounted: "What motivated us to get them out of Ukraine was seeing a picture of them huddled up in a bomb shelter near their apartment there in Kyiv."
Her family decided that she should be buried in the United States, despite the State Department offering to cover the cost of returning her remains to Ukraine.
"They didn’t want to come to this country and be a burden. They wanted to come to this country to build a new life," Zarutska’s uncle said.
In a family statement, they added: "We are heartbroken beyond words. Iryna came here to find peace and safety, and instead her life was stolen from her in the most horrific way. No family should have to go through this."
The family also called on city officials and the Charlotte Area Transit System to implement reforms to improve passenger safety: "This could have been anyone riding the light rail that night. We are committed to making sure this never happens again."
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