On the evening of August 22, 2025, a sense of routine and hope accompanied 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska as she boarded the Lynx Blue Line light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina. Wearing her pizzeria uniform, Zarutska was just weeks into her new life in the United States, having fled the war in Ukraine in search of safety and stability. But within minutes, her journey—and her life—came to a sudden, brutal end in an attack that has since shaken the city and reignited national debate over public safety and mental health in America.
According to the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), Zarutska boarded the train at 9:46 pm, quietly scrolling through her phone, unaware of the danger lurking behind her. Surveillance footage released by CATS on September 5 captured the chilling sequence: just four minutes after she took her seat, 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr.—a homeless man with a lengthy criminal record—pulled out a folding knife and stabbed Zarutska three times, at least once in the neck. The attack, described by police as both “random” and “unprovoked,” left Zarutska fatally wounded. She collapsed in her seat, clutching her neck, and was pronounced dead before she could leave the train.
Brown, meanwhile, calmly removed his sweatshirt, waited by the doors as blood dripped from the weapon, and exited at the next stop. The knife used in the stabbing was later recovered from the station platform. Brown was subsequently treated for a hand injury at Atrium Health and arrested on a charge of first-degree murder upon his release, as reported by New York Post and WCNC.
The randomness and brutality of the attack have left Charlotte reeling. Mayor Vi Lyles expressed the city’s collective grief and concern in a statement on September 6: “This was a senseless and tragic loss. My prayers remain with her loved ones as they continue to grieve through an unimaginable time. Like so many of you, I’m heartbroken and I’ve been thinking hard about what safety really looks like in our city. I remain committed to doing all we can to protect our residents and ensure Charlotte is a place where everyone feels safe.”
For many, Zarutska’s death has become emblematic of deeper flaws in the United States’ approach to public safety and mental health. Brown’s criminal history stretches back to 2011, including convictions for larceny, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and communicating threats. He had previously served five years in prison and, in 2025 alone, was arrested twice—once for misusing the emergency 911 number and again for bizarre behavior, claiming that “man-made material” inside his body was controlling him. Despite a motion from his lawyer declaring him mentally unsound and a pending court-ordered forensic evaluation, Brown was released unsupervised. His mother later told News Arena Network that he suffers from schizophrenia and had “fallen through the cracks of a broken system” despite the family’s efforts to get him help.
This revelation has sparked widespread anger and debate over the U.S. criminal justice system’s handling of individuals with mental health issues. Human rights activist Bienfaiteur Mutara commented, “It is unacceptable that he was never permanently detained.” Others, like media personality Benny Johnson, took to social media to criticize what they see as systemic failures: “She ran from war in Ukraine. She came here for safety. And America FAILED her.” Some voices online have attempted to frame the tragedy in racial terms, though police have found no evidence of a racial motive behind the attack.
Adding to the public’s frustration, reports indicate that transit security guards were present on the train, but in a different car at the time of the stabbing. Police arrived within six minutes of the incident, but by then, the damage was irreparable. The incident has led to immediate action from CATS, which announced at a September 2 meeting that it had hired a chief safety and security officer, tripled its security budget, and begun upgrading aging surveillance cameras with advanced technology. On September 22, the Charlotte City Council is set to consider expanding police patrols on trains and buses in response to mounting safety concerns.
Zarutska was remembered by friends and acquaintances as a kind-hearted and talented young woman with aspirations for a new life in America. She had studied at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College from 2023 to 2025. Makeup artist Ulyana Kozlovska, who once worked with Zarutska as a model, wrote on social media that she was “a beautiful person, a talented artist who was fleeing the war in Ukraine.”
The outpouring of grief and support from the community has been significant. Zarutska’s family launched a fundraiser to support her aunt, with whom she lived, describing her as someone with “a heart of gold” and calling her death “an irreparable loss for the entire family.” The campaign has raised more than $38,000, far surpassing its initial $20,000 goal, reflecting the depth of the community’s sorrow and solidarity.
The tragedy has also prompted a broader reckoning with the realities faced by refugees in the United States. Zarutska’s journey—leaving behind the devastation of war in Ukraine only to meet violence in her new home—has become a powerful symbol for many. Advocacy groups and city officials alike are calling for renewed efforts to ensure that those seeking refuge in America are met with the safety and support they deserve.
As the investigation into the motive behind the stabbing continues, the city of Charlotte finds itself at a crossroads. The case has forced uncomfortable questions about the adequacy of mental health services, the effectiveness of the criminal justice system, and the state of public safety on transit systems nationwide. For now, the memory of Iryna Zarutska lingers as a somber reminder of what is at stake—and a call to action for a safer, more compassionate society.
