how did iryna zarutska die

Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, died after being fatally stabbed on August 22, 2025, while riding a Lynx Blue Line light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina. She was attacked by Decarlos Brown Jr., a man sitting behind her on the train, who suddenly pulled out a knife and stabbed her multiple times, including at least once in the neck. Zarutska collapsed and died on the train despite efforts by fellow passengers to help her. Brown was arrested immediately after exiting the train and charged with first-degree murder. The motive was linked to Brown's severe mental health issues; he believed Zarutska was reading his thoughts and suffered from paranoid schizophrenia. He had a criminal history including armed robbery and other offenses. Zarutska had fled Ukraine with her family in 2022 due to the ongoing war and had settled in Charlotte, where she worked and was building a new life.