Ukrainian Refugee’s Dream Cut Short: Fatal Stabbing on Charlotte Light Rail Sparks National Debate

Tragic End to a New Beginning

A 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, Iryna Zarutska, who fled her war-torn homeland in 2022 with her family to build a new life in the United States, was fatally stabbed on a Charlotte light rail train.

The Incident

The unprovoked attack occurred on August 22, 2025, at 9:46 PM when Zarutska entered the train. By 9:50 PM, she was attacked, and within minutes, bystanders rushed to her aid. The attacker left the train at the next stop.

The suspect, identified as Decarlos Brown, 34, was taken to a hospital for treatment of a laceration and charged with first-degree murder. He was homeless at the time of the stabbing and had a history of mental health problems, according to family members.

A Life of Promise

Zarutska had immediately secured employment upon receiving her work permit in the U.S., working at both a senior assisted living center and a pizza place, while also caring for neighborhood animals. She was a graduate of art and restoration from a college in Kyiv.

Federal Response

The case has escalated to federal charges, with Brown now facing potential death penalty for committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system. ‘This brutal attack on an innocent woman simply trying to get to her destination is an attack on the American way of life,’ stated U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson, who promised to bring justice to Zarutska and her family.

Legacy and Impact

In a touching testament to her love for her adopted country, when the Ukrainian Embassy offered to help return her body home, her family declined, stating that the United States was now her home and should be her final resting place. In response to the tragedy, Charlotte authorities have announced increased security and law enforcement presence on public transit.