Ukrainian refugee fatally stabbed on Charlotte light rail by homeless ex-convict
CCTV footage sparks outrage
Charlotte: A chilling CCTV video has emerged showing the fatal stabbing of a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, Iryna Zarutska, aboard a Charlotte light rail train. The disturbing footage, widely circulated on social media, captures the random and unprovoked attack by a homeless ex-convict, 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr.
The incident occurred on the Lynx Blue Line on the night of August 22, as Zarutska, dressed in her pizzeria uniform, boarded the train at 9:46 p.m. According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), she sat down and appeared focused on her phone, unaware of the danger lurking behind her.
Just four minutes later, Brown pulled out a folding knife and stabbed Zarutska three times, including once in the neck. The video reportedly shows him calmly walking through the train car, removing his sweatshirt, and standing near the exit doors as blood dripped from his hands. Zarutska collapsed in her seat, clutching her neck. She was later pronounced dead on the train.
Brown exited at the next station, where police recovered the weapon near the platform. He was treated for a hand injury at a hospital before being arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
Court records reveal that Brown has a lengthy criminal history, including prior arrests for robbery with a dangerous weapon, larceny, and communicating threats. He served five years in prison for a previous armed robbery. In January, he was also charged with misusing 911 after allegedly claiming he was being controlled by “man-made material” inside his body.
The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) has since responded by announcing a series of safety upgrades, including:
1. Hiring a chief safety and security officer
2. Tripling the public transit safety budget
3. Upgrading surveillance cameras throughout the system
The Charlotte City Council is scheduled to review additional safety measures, including expanded police presence on public transit, at a meeting on September 22.
Zarutska had recently arrived in the United States after fleeing war-torn Ukraine, seeking a safe and hopeful future. Her family has set up a GoFundMe campaign, which has already raised over $38,000, to help with funeral expenses and support during this tragedy.
The CMPD investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to determine a motive for the attack.
She came to this country to be safe.
— Jennifer Coffindaffer (@CoffindafferFBI) September 7, 2025
She came here to escape war.
In a twisted irony, Iryna Zarutska was fatally stabbed, including once in the neck, as she commuted aboard a North Carolina train.
She was so very beautiful.
Please, if it can be avoided, don't sit with… pic.twitter.com/PMGEWn8vPx
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Latest: Trump says he'll raise tariffs to 15pc after Supreme Court ruling
Washington (AP): President Donald Trump on Monday threatened countries around the world to abide by any tariff deals they agreed to despite the US Supreme Court ruling that struck down many of his far-reaching taxes on imports. And he said he wants a global tariff of 15 per cent, up from 10 per cent he had announced immediately after the ruling.
The court's Friday decision struck down tariffs Trump had imposed on nearly every country using an emergency powers law. But the Republican president won't let go of his favourite tool for rewriting the rules of global commerce and applying international pressure.
“Any Country that wants to 'play games' with the ridiculous Supreme Court decision, especially those that have ' ripped off ' the USA. for years, and even decades, will be met with a much higher Tariff, and worse, than that which they just recently agreed to,” Trump posted Monday on Truth Social.
One of Trump's executive orders says he can bypass Congress and impose a 10 per cent tax on imports from around the world starting Tuesday, the same day as his State of the Union speech.
The Latest:
Trump says his State of the Union address will be a long one
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How long is an important question.
As he was wrapping up the White House event recognising “angel families,” Trump talked about how well the country is performing, in his view, and his administration's work to cut off illegal immigration from Mexico to the US.
“I'm making a speech tomorrow night, and you'll be hearing me say that,” he said. “I mean, it's going to be a long speech because we have so much to talk about.”
Last year, the Republican president spoke for a record-setting 100 minutes to a joint session of Congress. Such a speech in a president's first year in office technically is not considered a State of the Union address.
Angel families' event wraps up
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Trump concluded the event by signing a proclamation designating Feb. 22 as “National Angel Family Day.” A candle was lit in memory of victims killed by people in the US illegally, whose names were read aloud. Members of the military then sang “Amazing Grace.”
The event featured remarks by family members of the victims who thanked Trump for his work honouring their loved ones and securing the border. Trump acknowledged their suffering and derided the press for its coverage of the issue.
Tariff taxes should be refunded to benefit consumers, Democrats say
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The bill being introduced by Sens. Ron Wyden of Oregon, Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire would require the Trump administration to refund the taxes, plus interest. It would prioritise small businesses and encourage importers, wholesalers and large companies to pass the refunds on to their customers.
Shaheen said that repairing any of the damage starts with “President Trump refunding the illegally collected tariff taxes that Americans were forced to pay.”
The bill is unlikely to become law, but it reveals how Democrats are starting to apply public pressure going into November's midterm elections for control of Congress. Democrats have begun telling the public that Trump illegally raised taxes and now refuses to repay the money to the American people.
