Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee living in Charlotte, North Carolina, was fatally stabbed on August 22, 2025, while riding a light rail train. She was attacked by Decarlos Brown Jr., a 34-year-old man with a history of violent criminal offenses and mental health issues. Brown unprovokedly pulled out a pocket knife and stabbed Zarutska multiple times, including at least once in the neck, causing her to collapse and die at the scene. He was immediately arrested and charged with first-degree murder, as well as federal charges related to committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system. The attack shocked the community and sparked discussions about transit security and gaps in the criminal justice and mental health systems. Zarutska had fled Ukraine with her family due to the Russian invasion and had been building a new life in the United States, working at a local pizzeria and being known as a passionate artist and animal lover.
