A Ukrainian woman was murdered on a North Carolina light‑rail train on August 22, and police now have a suspect in custody after shocking footage showed him walking away from the crime scene.
Iryna Zarutska, 23, had come to the United States from Ukraine in 2022 after the Russian invasion. She vanished inside a crowded commuter car on the Lynx Blue Line in Charlotte. The train stopped at the next station, and emergency crews discovered she lay on the floor, hands over her head, bleeding heavily from multiple knife wounds. She was declared dead on the platform.
The suspect, Decarlos Brown, 34, was caught on camera just minutes after the attack. Surveillance footage shows him strolling calmly out of the car with a red hoodie— the same hoodie he was wearing when the assault went down. In the video he can be seen walking along the platform, laughing to himself, and later smoking a cigarette before police intercepted him.
Brown has a long criminal record, including 13 prior convictions and a pending trial. He is also listed as a homeless schizophrenic. The police say they found the red hoodie and a trash can near the scene that could hold evidence. After being confronted by four officers, Brown was tackled and the officers quickly took him into custody.
Authorities now face $1.25 million in federal and state charges for murder, with a potential death penalty if convicted. The case draws national attention to the dangers travelers face on the North Carolina transit system and the growing presence of new immigrant communities in the area.
The video evidence also shows the harrowing moments inside the car: the woman was seen cowering, then collapsed after the attacker walked away with a knife, leaving a trail of blood. Bystanders on the platform called 911, giving a description of the suspect while the victim lay unconscious and bleeding.
This tragic event reminds us that violence can strike anywhere, and that law‑enforcement teams must respond quickly to protect public transportation users. The Charlotte authorities are continuing to investigate the incident and are urging anyone with more information to come forward.
Source: New York Post
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