Decarlos Brown Jr., accused of fatally stabbing a Ukrainian refugee, has now offered a chilling explanation for the attack.
Iryna Zarutska fled the war in Ukraine in search of safety. Instead, her life was cut short on August 22, 2025, during a violent attack on a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina. Surveillance footage shows 30‑year‑old Decarlos Brown Jr. stabbing Zarutska in the neck. Afterward, he is seen walking through the train carriage still holding the knife.
Zarutska’s family described her as “gifted and passionate,” according to VT, adding: “We are heartbroken beyond words. Iryna came here to find peace and safety, and instead, her life was stolen from her in the most horrific way.” She had been building a new life in the U.S. and hoped to become a veterinary assistant.
Charges against Brown
Brown faces first‑degree murder charges as well as a federal charge for committing murder on a mass transportation system. If convicted, he could face life in prison or the death penalty. A Rule 24 hearing to determine whether prosecutors will pursue capital punishment has been postponed until April 2026.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina:
“Surveillance footage showed the victim entering the light rail car and sitting down in the row in front of Brown. Approximately four minutes later, Brown pulled a knife from his pocket and unfolded it before striking the victim three times from behind, killing her. Following the attack, it is alleged that Brown walked away from the victim. Responding officers located Brown on the light rail platform.
“Brown is charged with one count of violence against a railroad carrier and mass transportation system resulting in death. If convicted, he faces a maximum statutory sentence of life in prison or death. The indictment includes a Notice of Special Findings which could permit the United States to seek the death penalty. The Justice Department has not yet announced whether it will seek the death penalty. The State also has pending charges against Brown for first‑degree murder.”
A disturbing phone call
In a jailhouse phone call with his sister, Tracey, on August 28, 2025, Brown described the attack in unsettling terms, according to The Daily Mail.
“I hurt my hand, stabbing her. I don’t even know the lady. I never said not one word to the lady at all. That’s scary, ain’t it. Why would somebody stab somebody for no reason?”
Tracey pressed him on why he targeted Zarutska.
“Out of all people, why her? She’s from the Ukraine, she’s from Russia, and they had a war going on against the United States, so I’m just trying to understand, of all people, why her?”
Brown responded: “They just lashed out on her, that’s what happened. Whoever was working the materials, they lashed out on her. That’s all there is to it. Now they really gotta investigate what my body was exposed to… Now they gotta do an investigation as to who was the motive behind what happened.”
Mental health concerns
Brown’s mother, Michelle Dewitt, told ABC News that he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia but refused to take his medication. Tracey said Brown believed the government implanted a chip in him and that his condition worsened after he was released from prison in 2022.
Earlier this year, Brown reportedly called 911 claiming his brain was being controlled by a microchip. Instead of receiving treatment, he was charged with misuse of the emergency system and released on cashless bail.
“He was a high risk. He was not in his right mind. He was not safe for society. We know what he has been dealing with the last three years. And now an innocent woman is dead,” Tracey said.
His mother said she had tried to have him admitted to a mental health facility but was unable to do so because she was not his legal guardian.
“He was seeking help. He called 911 multiple times. Instead of talking to him, they thought charging him was going to help,” Tracey added, according to VT.
Political reaction and new legislation
Following the killing, President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social: “The ANIMAL who so violently killed the beautiful young lady from Ukraine, who came to America searching for peace and safety, should be given a ‘Quick’ (there is no doubt!) Trial, and only awarded THE DEATH PENALTY. There can be no other option!!!”
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that the Department of Justice intends to pursue the maximum penalty, stating Brown “would never again see the light of day as a free man.”
Zarutska’s death has also prompted legislative action. North Carolina lawmakers passed a new criminal justice bill, known as “Iryna’s Law,” aimed at strengthening mental health evaluations for defendants, tightening bail rules, and reopening the path for executions after nearly two decades.
“Brown should have never been allowed out of the jail,” Republican Rep. Tricia Cotham said during a House debate. “The catch‑and‑release practices for violent offenders will end today with your support. This heinous act was preventable.”
