Graphic footage of a Ukrainian refugee being fatally stabbed by a man on a train in Charlotte has been released. Iryna Zarutska was recently killed by an armed man seated directly behind her on the CATS Blue Line.
The 23-year-old woman boarded the train that was headed to East/West Boulevard Station on August 22. In the aisle behind her was a man with a long history of criminal activity and mental health issues, identified as Decarlos Brown.
In the surveillance footage, recently released by the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), Zarutska is seen quietly sitting in her seat. She has headphones and never exchanges a single word with the suspect behind her.
Brown suddenly stands, and, without any provocation, he pulls out a knife and stabs her. The brutal attack happens in seconds, leaving other passengers stunned. Brown then calmly walked to the other end of the train and pulled down his hoodie, as if attempting to blend in. Meanwhile, passengers rushed to Zarutska’s side, trying to stop the bleeding and save her life.
The train stopped minutes later at the next platform. When Brown exited the train, he was met immediately by police officers who arrested him on the spot. He is now facing first-degree murder charges, and CATS has permanently banned him from using the transit system.
Zarutska had come to Charlotte after fleeing her war-torn home country to find a safe space in the U.S. with her mother, sister, and brother. The young woman was known to be a talented artist who was passionate about sculpting and clothing design.
The report says she was also compassionate and often helped neighbours by caring for their pets. Her obituary described her as someone who was always smiling and aspiring to be a veterinary assistant.
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles addressed the incident after the video became public, urging sensitivity toward Zarutska’s loved ones and calling the killing a “senseless and tragic loss”. She reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring Charlotte is a city where “everyone feels safe.”
