Decarlos Brown Jr. Indicted for Murder of Ukrainian Refugee in Charlotte Eligible for Death Penalty

Decarlos Brown Jr. has been federally indicted for the fatal stabbing of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte, North Carolina light rail train, making him eligible for the death penalty. The August 22, 2025 attack, captured on surveillance footage, showed Brown stabbing Zarutska multiple times from behind in an apparently unprovoked assault. Brown, who has a lengthy criminal record and suffers from schizophrenia, had recently been released from custody on a misdemeanor charge, which has sparked criticism of the justice system’s handling of repeat offenders. The killing reignited national debates on public safety, mental health, and criminal justice reform, prompting North Carolina to enact "Iryna's Law," reinstating the death penalty after a two-decade moratorium. President Donald Trump called Brown an "animal" and strongly urged for the death penalty to be applied swiftly. Zarutska's family expressed hope for swift justice following the indictment, which federal prosecutors have prioritized as a major public safety issue.