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.
NÃO ESTÁ NAS NOTÍCIAS PORQUE AS CORES ESTÃO TROCADAS! #whitelivesmatter
A Iryna escapou da guerra na Ucrânia, mas sucumbiu à insegurança nos Estados Unidos! Encontrou a morte às mãos deste criminoso que nunca devia estar em liberdade.
Iryna Zarutska tinha apenas 23 anos. Foi… pic.twitter.com/rMezFa0Bvk
— Pedro dos Santos Frazão (@Pedro_Frazao_) September 7, 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.
