what happened to iryna zarutska

Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee who fled her country due to the Russian invasion, was fatally stabbed on August 22, 2025, on a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina. The attacker, Decarlos Brown, a man with a history of criminal convictions and mental illness, stabbed her multiple times after she sat in front of him on the train. Zarutska died on the train from her injuries despite passengers' efforts to help her. Brown was arrested at the scene and charged with first-degree murder. The killing drew international attention, highlighting issues related to public safety, transit security, and gaps in mental health and criminal justice systems. The case has sparked public outcry and policy discussions, as well as personal grief from Zarutska's boyfriend and community vigils in her memory.