On the evening of August 22, 2025, tragedy struck Charlotte, North Carolina, when 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska was fatally stabbed on a city light rail train. The attack, which occurred at the South End’s East/West Boulevard station at 9:55 p.m., has sparked outrage, soul-searching, and a fierce debate over public safety, mental health, and the justice system’s handling of repeat offenders.
Zarutska’s journey to the United States was supposed to be a new beginning. Fleeing Kyiv in 2022 to escape the violence of Russia’s full-scale invasion, she arrived in North Carolina full of hope, according to her family. “This is an irreparable loss for her family,” a GoFundMe campaign started by Zarutska’s aunt stated, as reported by The Charlotte Observer. Those close to her described a young woman eager for peace and a fresh start, only to have her life cut short in a senseless act of violence.
Police quickly arrested Decarlos Brown Jr., a 34-year-old homeless man, at the scene and charged him with first-degree murder. Surveillance video released days later showed a harrowing scene: a man, later identified as Brown, pulling out a pocket knife and stabbing Zarutska dozens of times, leaving the train carriage covered in blood. She was pronounced dead at the scene, and Brown was taken to Atrium Health with non-life-threatening injuries before being booked into jail.
The brutality of the attack and the circumstances surrounding Brown’s release into the community have ignited an intense public debate. According to Newsweek, Brown’s criminal record stretches back to 2011, including convictions for armed robbery, felony larceny, breaking and entering, and shoplifting. He served more than five years in prison for armed robbery and has faced at least 14 prior court cases. After his release, Brown’s mother had him evaluated for increasingly aggressive behavior, leading to a two-week psychiatric commitment and a diagnosis of schizophrenia.
Despite these red flags, Brown remained free. Earlier in 2025, he was arrested for misusing the 911 system—a result of delusional beliefs that someone had implanted a “man-made” substance in his body to control his movements and speech. Police records show that after officers told him there was nothing they could do, Brown called 911 again while they were still present, leading to his arrest. He was released without bond, and a judge ordered a forensic evaluation to determine his competency to proceed. According to Queen City News, that evaluation was never conducted.
The failure to intervene more decisively has drawn criticism from all corners. On social media, calls to “name and shame” the judges and district attorneys who allowed Brown to remain free have grown louder. Congressman Randy Fine, a Republican, announced plans to introduce legislation to “hold judges accountable when violent repeat offenders they release commit new crimes.” As Fine put it, “It’s easy to release criminals when you’re protected by an armed bailiff at all times. The rest of us aren’t so lucky. Those 12+ judges that released Decarlos Brown Jr. should have their day in court too.”
Even billionaire Elon Musk weighed in, urging, “Let’s change the law. Between now and then, name and shame the DAs and judges who enable murder, rape and robbery. But especially shame those who funded the campaigns of the DAs and judges. That will make the biggest difference.” The far-right Libs of TikTok account also criticized what they saw as leniency from “liberal judges.”
Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Merriweather, in comments to Axios, acknowledged the limitations of the current system, particularly when it comes to defendants with mental health issues. “It is significant that our community is focusing its attention not only on public safety, but also how mental health impacts public safety. But we’re at the very beginning of a conversation, not an end of one,” Merriweather said. He noted that some defendants languish in mental health facilities for years while courts wait for them to become competent to stand trial. In some cases, judges eventually dismiss charges and release individuals who have committed violent crimes.
The community’s grief and anger were compounded when several GoFundMe pages appeared online, seeking donations for Brown’s legal defense. The fundraisers claimed Brown was a victim of systemic failures and racism, arguing he was “failed categorically by the judicial system and the mental health services of North Carolina, and as such is not entirely to blame for what happened.” One page implored, “Anything helps fight against the racism and bias against our people. Thank you for giving us a hand to push against this corrupt narrative.”
These appeals provoked swift backlash. “You can’t make this up. He [allegedly] murdered in cold blood and yet his supporters want you to think he was ‘failed’ by the system,” one person wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Another demanded, “Anyone who donated to the GoFundMe for Decarlos Dejuan Brown should be named and shamed!” The outrage was so intense that GoFundMe removed the pages, issuing a statement: “GoFundMe’s Terms of Service explicitly prohibit fundraisers that raise money for the legal defense of anyone formally charged with an alleged violent crime. Consistent with this long-standing policy, this fundraiser has been removed from the platform and the donors who contributed to the fundraiser have been fully refunded.”
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles expressed her condolences and concerns, writing on X, “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.”
At the national level, U.S. President Donald Trump was asked about the case on September 7, 2025. At first, he said he hadn’t heard about it, but after being shown the surveillance footage, he called the attack “horrible” and promised to learn more about it.
The investigation into Zarutska’s murder is ongoing, with authorities yet to release a motive. Brown is being held without bond, and a judge has ordered a competency evaluation to determine if he can stand trial. The case has become a flashpoint in discussions about the intersection of mental health, criminal justice, and public safety—not just in Charlotte, but across the country.
For Zarutska’s family, the pain is immeasurable. For a city and nation grappling with questions of justice and compassion, the search for answers—and accountability—continues.
