A Ukrainian woman who was escaping war in her homeland was stabbed to death on a Charlotte light‑rail train on August 22, and the suspect now faces federal charges that could bring the death penalty.
Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, was arrested in Charlotte after the attack on the Lynx Blue Line. A federal grand jury has indicted him on a capital offense – violence against a railroad carrier that resulted in death. The indictment brings a federal death‑sentence possibility, a rare step for this type of crime.
The killing happened when 23‑year‑old Iryna Zarutska entered a train car and was stabbed three times by Brown about four minutes later. Surveillance footage captured the incident. Brown walked away after the attack, and police found the knife he used shortly afterward. He was taken into custody minutes later on the light‑rail platform.
Brown has a criminal record that dates back to 2015. He was convicted of larceny, breaking and entering and armed robbery and served five years in prison. Prosecutors say there was no prior contact between Brown and Zarutska before the stabbing.
Neighbors of the Ukrainian refugee described Zarutska as an American dream‑seeker, hoping to build a new life in the United States after fleeing the war in Ukraine. For the Charlotte community, the incident raises questions about safety on public transit and how just the system protects vulnerable passengers.
The case is still developing. If the federal court imposes the death penalty, it would be among the first such sentences for a rail‑related homicide in the U.S. The local and federal authorities are continuing to investigate how the attack occurred and whether any other suspects are involved.
Source: Fox News
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