Iryna Zarutska was a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee who was fatally stabbed on August 22, 2025, while riding a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina. She had fled Ukraine with her family in 2022 to escape the war following Russia's invasion. The attacker, Decarlos Brown Jr., a 34-year-old man with a long criminal history including robbery and diagnosed schizophrenia, was charged with first-degree murder and a federal charge related to causing death on a mass transit system. The attack was unprovoked, occurring as Zarutska was returning home from work. The incident generated international coverage, public outrage, and sparked discussions around transit security, crime policy, mental health, and court system failures, especially since the suspect had been previously released on bond despite his criminal record. Zarutska's family chose to bury her in the United States, despite her father's presence in Kyiv via FaceTime during her burial. The tragedy also prompted a large community response and memorials for her in Charlotte.
