The brutal killing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte, North Carolina, has sparked widespread outrage and renewed debate over mental health, homelessness, and public safety on US transit systems.
Zarutska, 23, was fatally stabbed on 22 August 2025 while riding the Lynx Blue Line light rail in the city's South End neighbourhood.
Her alleged killer, 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., a homeless man with a history of criminal convictions and mental health issues, was arrested moments after the attack and charged with first-degree murder.
The incident has drawn international attention, not only because of Zarutska's refugee status but also due to the disturbing motive Brown reportedly gave to police: 'She was reading my mind.'
A Refugee's Journey Ends in Violence
Zarutska fled Kyiv with her family in 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
According to a GoFundMe page created by her relatives, she had settled in Charlotte and was working towards rebuilding her life in safety.
On the night of the attack, she boarded the train at East/West Boulevard station and sat near Brown, who was fare-jumping and had entered the train without paying.
Surveillance footage reviewed by police shows Brown pulling a pocket knife from his hoodie and stabbing Zarutska three times, including once in the neck. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Officers in the adjacent train car responded within minutes and arrested Brown on the platform.
Chilling Motive and Troubled Past
Following his arrest for the murder of Iryna Zarutska, Decarlos Brown Jr. allegedly told officers that he believed she was reading his mind and that her presence made him feel threatened.
While the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) has not officially confirmed the motive, sources close to the investigation disclosed that Brown's statements are being considered as part of a broader mental health assessment.
Brown has an extensive criminal history, including convictions for robbery with a dangerous weapon, breaking, and larceny. He has also faced charges related to assault and the misuse of emergency services.
Police records reveal that during a prior welfare check, Brown made disturbing claims, stating that someone had given him a 'man-made material' that controlled when he could eat or speak.
The accused comes from a family with a documented history of violent crime. His father, Decarlos Sr., and older brother, Stacey Dejon Brown, have both served prison sentences for serious offences. Stacey is currently serving a 27-to-36-year term for the 2014 murder of 65-year-old Robert Heym, who was shot and killed during a robbery in Charlotte.
According to a recent report, Stacey committed the crime alongside Rodderick Derrick and used the Charlotte light rail to escape the scene.
The detail has drawn attention for its eerie similarity to the recent killing of Zarutska, which also took place aboard the same transit system and allegedly involved Stacey's younger brother.
Public Reaction and Debate
The killing has prompted a wave of grief and anger across social media, with many users drawing comparisons to the 2023 death of Jordan Neely, another homeless man who was killed on a New York subway by Marine veteran Daniel Penny. Penny was later acquitted of criminally negligent homicide.
Some commentators have suggested that if someone like Penny had been present during Zarutska's attack, the outcome might have been different. Others have criticised the lack of security on public transport and called for increased mental health interventions for homeless individuals with violent histories.
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles issued a statement expressing condolences to Zarutska's family and pledging to review transit safety protocols:
'This was a tragic failure by the courts and magistrates,' she said. 'Our police officers arrest people only to have them quickly released, which undermines our ability to protect our community and ensure safety.'
'We need a bipartisan solution to address repeat offenders who do not face consequences for their actions and those who cannot get treatment for their mental illness and are allowed to be on the streets.'
She also pledged to:
- Redeploy security officers to Blue Line platforms
- Increase fare enforcement
- Boost Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police patrols
- Hire nearly 30 additional security staff
- Triple the transit safety budget from $5.8 million to almost $18 million
Victim Remembered as Talented Artist
Friends described her as a gifted artist who loved animals and often walked neighbours' pets. The GoFundMe page has raised thousands for funeral expenses.
Zarutska graduated from Synergy College in Kyiv with a degree in Art and Restoration and was attending Rowan-Cabarrus Community College while working at Zepeddie's Pizzeria.
'Iryna came here to find peace and safety, and instead her life was stolen from her most horrifically,' a family spokesperson said.
Investigation Continues
The CMPD's homicide unit is continuing its investigation and has urged anyone with information to come forward. Brown remains in custody and is undergoing a psychiatric evaluation. Prosecutors have not yet indicated whether they will pursue additional charges or seek to have Brown declared mentally unfit to stand trial.
This attack has reignited discussions on public transport security, support systems for the mentally ill, and limitations within criminal justice. The federal sticker on the case ensures it will reverberate far beyond Charlotte.
Meanwhile, Zarutska's family has called for justice and greater protection for refugees and immigrants seeking safety in the United States. Her death, they say, should not be in vain.
