Suspect denied bond in Ukrainian refugee’s killing on Charlotte light rail line
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Charlotte light rail train stabbing
A 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, Iryna Zarutska, was fatally stabbed on Aug. 22 on the light rail line in Charlotte’s South End. 34-year-old DeCarlos Brown Jr., who has a reported history of mental health issues, is charged in the killing. Zarutska’s death has received national attention, with public comments from President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Charlotte officials.
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Calling the crime “heinous,” a judge on Friday denied bond to the man charged in the fatal, random stabbing of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on the light rail line in South End, Charlotte Observer news partner WSOC reported.
Chief District Court Judge Roy Wiggins expressed his condolences to Zarutska’s family after her uncle urged the judge to keep Decarlos Brown, 34, in jail.
“She was a sweet angel,” the uncle said at Brown’s first court appearance, according to the station. “I ask the court not to release him, as he could be a menace to the community.”
Brown’s lawyer said he will file a motion for an evaluation of Brown’s competency to stand trial because of his “long history” of mental health issues, WSOC reported.
Brown appeared for the brief hearing via video. He wore an orange jail uniform, a face mask and his right hand wrapped in gauze from an injury during the attack.
At about 9:55 p.m. Aug. 22, police got a call for service reporting that a man had just stabbed a woman in the throat on the Lynx Blue Line, according to a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police affidavit filed in court Thursday.
Witnesses pointed police to Brown standing on the outbound light rail platform, the affidvait said.
Detectives also got video from inside the train, which reportedly showed Zarutska entering and sitting in front of Brown. For about four-and-a-half minutes, the ride continued as normal before he pulled out a knife, according to the affidavit. The affidavit said he unfolded it, paused, stood up and struck her three times.
The video showed blood hitting the floor and Zarutska going unresponsive as Brown walked away, according to the affidavit.
“The defendant is the assailant on the video,” the affidavit said. “There appears to be no interaction between the victim and defendant.”
This story was originally published August 29, 2025 at 2:59 PM.
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