Federal prosecutors have charged Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, with a crime that makes him eligible for the death penalty following the fatal stabbing of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska on Charlotte’s Lynx Blue Line light rail. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina announced on Tuesday that Brown is facing a federal count of committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system.
Prosecutors Call Attack an Assault on Public Safety
U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson condemned the stabbing as both senseless and deeply damaging to public trust.
“This brutal attack on an innocent woman simply trying to get to her destination is an attack on the American way of life,” Ferguson said, adding that Zarutska “deserves justice, and we will bring justice to her and her family.”
During a press conference, Ferguson described the incident as a “terroristic act” and confirmed that he had personally spoken with Zarutska’s mother and uncle. Holding back tears, he emphasized:
“No one should sit in fear while on the light rail.”
Community Outrage and Security Failures
The murder has sparked widespread outrage, amplified by video footage of the attack circulating online. Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles announced immediate changes to transit security, including redeployment of CATS personnel and increased police patrols.
“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,” Lyles said.
CATS later confirmed there was no security officer present on the train when the stabbing occurred. At the time, security personnel were riding a separate train just ahead of the one where Zarutska was attacked. Lyles has since ordered the deployment of bike units and urban terrain vehicles as part of a new safety strategy.
National Leaders Weigh In
The attack has drawn responses at both the state and federal levels. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sharply criticized Charlotte officials, stating:
“If mayors can’t keep their trains and buses safe, they don’t deserve the taxpayers’ money.”
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein called the murder “appalling” and pressed for stronger policing:
“We need more cops on the beat to keep people safe.”
Victim Fled War Only to Face Violence in the U.S.
Zarutska’s story has resonated deeply. Before coming to the United States, she had lived in a bomb shelter in Ukraine. According to an affidavit, she had just finished work and was heading home when she was “brutally murdered.” Officials say she worked in elder care, local food service, and often helped animals in her neighborhood.
Her family confirmed she will be buried in the U.S. despite outreach from the Ukrainian Embassy.
“No, she loved America, we will bury her here,” the family told Ferguson.
Suspect’s Criminal Record Under Scrutiny
Court records show Brown has a long criminal history, including larceny, breaking and entering, and a 2015 conviction for armed robbery that led to five years in prison. He had been charged 14 times before the August 22 attack, most recently in January. Critics have questioned how he was “still on the streets,” as FBI Special Agent James Barnacle Jr. put it.
Experience Restful Nights with Organna’s Knockout Sleep Gummies
Brown, who sustained minor injuries during the stabbing, was arrested the same night and initially charged with first-degree murder. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 19.
Looking Ahead
The case now moves into federal jurisdiction, where prosecutors have indicated they will pursue the harshest possible penalty. Meanwhile, Charlotte residents and commuters are calling for lasting reforms to transit safety, with many arguing that the attack underscores systemic failures in both criminal justice and public transportation oversight.
