Man Who Murdered Ukrainian Refugee Iryna Zarutska On Charlotte Train Faces Federal Charges

Last Updated:September 10, 2025, 04:09 IST

According to federal investigators, Brown used a pocketknife to stab Zarutska three times from behind.

Zarutska moved to the United States three years ago after fleeing the war in Ukraine (Image Courtesy: CATS)

The US Department of Justice has announced it will move forward with federal prosecution against Decarlos Brown, the man accused of fatally stabbing a Ukrainian refugee aboard a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina. US Attorney General Pamela Bondi confirmed on Tuesday that she has authorised her team to proceed with federal charges in the case.

Brown, 34, is accused of murdering 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska on August 22 while they were riding on a Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) light rail train. Surveillance footage captured the brutal attack, which occurred in full view of other passengers. Despite Zarutska collapsing after being stabbed, no one on board intervened or attempted to help.

Federal prosecutors have charged Brown with committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system, a serious federal offense. He also faces a previously filed state charge of first-degree murder in what officials describe as an unprovoked and senseless attack, reported BBC.

“Iryna Zarutska was a young woman living the American dream – her horrific murder is a direct result of failed soft-on-crime policies that put criminals before innocent people,” said Attorney General Bondi in a statement. “We will seek the maximum penalty for this unforgivable act of violence – he will never again see the light of day as a free man.”

According to federal investigators, Brown used a pocketknife to stab Zarutska three times from behind. She was returning home from a shift at a local pizzeria when the attack occurred. Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene. Brown was apprehended on the light rail platform by responding officers. Authorities noted that he has a lengthy criminal record, including time served for armed robbery.

At a press conference, federal officials acknowledged that the case “screams of a state crime” but added that the nature of the attack, occurring on public transit, justifies federal involvement. The FBI continues to investigate and has not ruled out additional federal charges.

Zarutska moved to the US three years ago after fleeing the war in Ukraine, where she lived in a bomb shelter with her family. Since arriving in Charlotte, she had worked multiple jobs, including at a senior care facility and a pizza shop, in pursuit of a better life.

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