Update on man accused of fatally stabbing Ukrainian refugee after he revealed chilling 'motive' for attack from jail

An update has emerged on the man accused of fatally stabbing a Ukrainian refugee after he revealed a chilling motive for the attack from jail.

Iryna 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 captured the horrifying moment the young woman was targeted.

At 9:55PM, Zarutska was seen sitting in an aisle seat when a man, identified as Decarlos Brown Jr., "pulls a knife out of his pocket, unfolds the knife, pauses, then stands up, and strikes at the victim three times," according to an affidavit, per PEOPLE.

"Blood visibly drips on the floor as the defendant walks away from the victim. The victim goes unresponsive shortly after the attack," the affidavit states.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Brown was arrested shortly after, following a tip from a witness.

U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson described the killing as a "terroristic act," adding: "This brutal attack on an innocent woman simply trying to get to her destination is an attack on the American way of life. Of course, crimes like this affect the victim the most - Iryna deserves justice, and we will bring justice to her and her family."

Brown was initially charged with first-degree murder and later hit with a federal charge for committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty, with a hearing requested within 180 days to determine whether it will be pursued, per WBTV.

Per an April 7 motion filed by attorneys for 34-year-old suspect, a state psychiatric facility found in a December 2025 report that he was "incapable to proceed to trial".

The case is now on hold until a judge determines that Brown’s mental capacity has been restored.

Chilling explanation from jail

In a recorded jailhouse call obtained days after the attack, Brown gave a disturbing account of the incident.

"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.

When his sister Tracey questioned why he chose Zarutska, he 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 said her brother is a paranoid schizophrenic, described his mental state leading up to the attack. "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.

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."

Tracey mother also claimed attempts to get him help had failed. "He was seeking help. He called 911 multiple times. Instead of talking to him, they thought charging him was going to help."

Victim Remembered as Family Demands Justice

Zarutska had moved to the United States from Kyiv with her family to escape war.

Before her death, she worked at Zepeddie’s pizzeria, became fluent in English, and dreamed of becoming a veterinary assistant.

Her family said 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."

Featured image credit: Mecklenburg County Sheriff Office