A Ukrainian refugee seeking safety in the United States was brutally killed in North Carolina. 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska was stabbed to death by a homeless career criminal at the East/West Boulevard light rail station in Charlotte, just before 10 p.m. on Friday, August 22, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD).
Zarutska suffered multiple stab wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee, flees to the USA, boards her train in Charlotte, North Carolina, sits down, and is killed from behind by Decarlos Brown Jr for no apparent reason!
Wtf is going on here?!
https://t.co/MPa8fGpuK7— Tommy Robinson 🇬🇧 (@TRobinsonNewEra) September 6, 2025
Who Was Iryna Zarutska?
A GoFundMe page dedicated to her family stated Zarutska had “recently arrived in the United States, seeking safety from the war and hoping for a new beginning.”
“This is an irreparable loss for her family,” the page reads.
The fundraiser, created to help Zarutska’s family with unexpected expenses, had raised $12,713 of its $14,000 goal at the time of reporting.
Suspect Identified
The alleged killer is Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, who has been charged with first-degree murder.
“Brown was transported to Atrium Health with non-life-threatening injuries sustained at the time of the incident,” CMPD said.
“Brown will be arrested upon his release. He is charged with First Degree Murder.”
Brown has a criminal history dating back to 2011, including felony larceny, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and communicating threats. He served five years in prison for the robbery charge.
He also has pending charges for misuse of 911, claiming someone had given him a “man-made” material controlling his actions. Authorities determined he was experiencing a medical issue during the call.
