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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23-year-old woman found dead at Delhi home; suicide suspected
New Delhi (PTI): A 23-year-old woman was found dead in her house in Delhi's Prem Nagar area, with police suspecting it to be a case of suicide, an official said on Tuesday.
The deceased, identified as Anjali Singh, was found motionless in her room on Monday by her sister and her neighbour.
Police said her father, Vinod Kumar Singh (51), told them that he and his wife were away at work at the time of the incident, while their son and the other daughter were also not at home at the time of the incident.
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According to the family, the room in which Anjali was found was locked from the inside. The door was later forcibly opened by a neighbour and her sister with the help of a crowbar.
Her body was found lying on the bed inside the room, police said.
Preliminary inquiry revealed that Anjali had allegedly hanged herself using a piece of cloth tied to the ceiling fan.
It is suspected that the noose eventually might have loosened or torn off, resulting in her being found lying on the bed.
Family members informed the police that Anjali was a final-year student of a librarian science course from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). About a week ago, her final-year examination results were declared, and she had failed, following which she had been under depression, they said.
The family has not raised any allegation of foul play, police said, adding that no suicide note or external injury marks were found on the body during the initial inspection.
Inquest proceedings have been initiated in the matter as per the law. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination to ascertain the exact cause of death, and further investigation is underway, police added.
