Ukrainian woman killed at South End light rail station moved to US to escape war

A 23-year-old Ukrainian woman fatally stabbed at a South End light station Friday night had recently moved to the U.S. to escape war, a GoFundMe page said.

Iryna Zarutska, 23, who was “hoping for a new beginning,” was found dead at 9:55 p.m. at 1821 Camden Road, according to police. A WSOC photo of the scene showed yellow police tape surrounding the platform and a train at the East/West Boulevard light rail station.

CMPD declined Monday to say if the stabbing happened on a train, on the platform, or nearby.

“This is an irreparable loss for her family,” the GoFundMe page said. “We have created this fundraiser to support Valeria and her loved ones during this heartbreaking time and to help them with the unexpected expenses.”

The page identified Valeria as Zarutska’s aunt.

Decarlos Brown, 34, was arrested shortly after police responded to the scene. He was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. He’s charged with first-degree murder.

Brown has been arrested multiple times since 2011, according to court records. Charges have included felony larceny, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and communicating threats. Almost all charges were dropped.

He was charged with misuse of the 911 system in January. The charge is pending. Police conducted a welfare check on Brown, who told them he believed a person gave him a “man-made” material that controlled when he did things like eat, walk and talk, an affidavit said.

“Brown wanted officers to investigate this ‘man-made’ material that was inside of his body,” the affidavit said. “Officers advised Brown that the issue was medical issue and that there was nothing further they could do.”

The affidavit said Brown became upset with officers, called 911 to speak with police, and was arrested after hanging up. His attorney, public defender Brianna Buford, filed a motion questioning his “capacity to proceed.”

City Council demands action

Multiple City Council members called for action Monday to improve safety on the city’s public transit system in the wake of the stabbing and other recent violent incidents. They noted Mecklenburg voters will decide the fate of a referendum to raise the county’s sales tax to pay for road, rail and bus projects this November.

“I know from my experience of living in Washington, D.C., and having lots of friends in Atlanta that the moment where the transit system starts to become something where it’s not considered to be safe is the moment in which you begin to lose riders, to lose momentum,” Council member Edwin Peacock III said.

Mary Ramsey contributed to this story.

This is a developing story.

This story was originally published August 25, 2025 at 1:23 PM.