what happened to iryna

Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, was fatally stabbed on August 22, 2025, on a Lynx Blue Line light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina. She had fled the war in Ukraine with her family and was starting a new life in the US, working at a pizzeria and attending English classes. The attacker, Decarlos Brown Jr., a 34-year-old man with a criminal record and mental health issues, unprovokedly stabbed her multiple times with a pocketknife while she was seated and using her phone. Zarutska died from her injuries on the train before reaching the hospital. The incident has provoked widespread outrage and discussions about public safety, crime policies, and mental health in the US. Brown was arrested, charged with first-degree murder, and is facing federal charges potentially leading to the death penalty. Videos of the attack were made public and intensified the debate on urban crime. Zarutska's family and community mourn her tragic and senseless loss.