Iryna Zarutska murder suspect Decarlos Brown Jr faces the death penalty after being charged over her death. 23-year-old Iryna was stabbed in a shocking unprovoked attack whilst travelling on the Charlotte light rail.
On August 22, Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska was sat on the CATS Blue Line in Charlotte, North Carolina. She was scrolling on her phone whilst wearing headphones, unaware of what was about to happen when Decarlos Brown Jr was sat behind her.
Decarlos Brown Jr stood up and fatally stabbed her in the neck. Some passengers attempted to help, and Brown Jr was arrested at the next station.
CNN reported a police detective said: “The train travels for approximately four-and-a-half minutes before the suspect pulls [a] knife from his pocket, unfolds the knife, pauses, then stands up, and strikes at the victim three times.”
via Charlotte Area Transit System
Decarlos Brown Jr was arrested on August 22nd and was then charged by the US Attorney’s Office in the Western District of North Carolina with committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system. This could make him eligible for the death penalty, the DOJ said on Tuesday.
US Attorney Russ Ferguson said in a statement: “This brutal attack on an innocent woman simply trying to get to her destination is an attack on the American way of life. Of course, crimes like this affect the victim the most — Iryna deserves justice, and we will bring justice to her and her family.”
In a press conference, he held back tears and added: “No one should sit in fear while on the light rail.”
The charges come after the local mayor has said the city is now increasing security on commuter trains “effective immediately”. Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles said: “As I reflect on the tragic murder of Iryna Zarutska my heart continues to go out to her family and our community as we try to make sense of this horrific and senseless loss.”
She added: “Residents across our community and visitors to our region depend on public transit. We owe it to them to make sure our public transit system and our city are safe and secure.”
A GoFundMe has since been launched to support Iryna’s family and pay for funeral expenses. It’s already raised over $200k. It reads: “Ira had recently arrived in the United States, seeking safety from the war and hoping for a new beginning. Tragically, her life was cut short far too soon. This is an irreparable loss for her family.”
For more, like The Tab on Facebook. Featured image via Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office and Charlotte Area Transit System.
