❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have charged Decarlos Dejuan Brown Jr. with one count of committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system following the stabbing death of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a North Carolina train.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Decarlos Dejuan Brown Jr., Iryna Zarutska, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Attorney General Pam Bondi.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The attack occurred on August 22 aboard a Charlotte light-rail train, with federal charges announced on October 24.
💬KEY QUOTE: “The FBI jumped to assist in this investigation immediately to ensure justice is served, and the perpetrator is never released from jail to kill again.” – FBI Director Kash Patel
🎯IMPACT: The case highlights the consequences of soft crime policies and has reignited calls for stricter sentencing and federal intervention.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced Tuesday that Decarlos Dejuan Brown Jr., accused of fatally stabbing Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska aboard a Charlotte light-rail train, has been federally charged with one count of committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system.
“The brutal attack on Iryna Zarutska on the Charlotte Light Rail was a disgraceful act that should never happen in America,” FBI Director Kash Patel said. “The FBI jumped to assist in this investigation immediately to ensure justice is served, and the perpetrator is never released from jail to kill again. I want to thank Attorney General [Pam] Bondi for her pursuit of today’s federal charges, which are the first step toward delivering justice for Iryna and her family—as well as the millions of Americans who deserve to live in our great American cities free from being targeted by violent criminals.”
Attorney General Bondi stated that her office will seek the maximum penalty for Brown, who has a lengthy criminal history, including 14 arrests over a decade. “I have directed my attorneys to federally prosecute DeCarlos Brown Jr., a repeat violent offender with a history of violent crime, for murder,” Bondi said. “We will seek the maximum penalty for this unforgivable act of violence — he will never again see the light of day as a free man.”
Surveillance footage from the LYNX Blue Line captured the moments leading up to the attack, showing Brown pulling out a folding knife and stabbing Zarutska, who was still in her pizzeria work uniform, three times. Zarutska, 23, had fled Ukraine with her family in 2022 to escape the war. Footage of Brown following the unprovoked attack appears to show him saying, “I got that white girl,” to himself, still clutching the murder weapon, and dripping blood throughout the carriage.
Brown’s criminal record includes convictions for larceny, breaking and entering, and robbery with a dangerous weapon. He served over six years in prison before his release in 2020 and had additional charges earlier this year. The case has drawn national attention, with President Donald J. Trump calling Brown a “lunatic” and advocating for tougher sentencing policies.
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