A young Ukrainian refugee who fled the war in her country for safety in the United States was brutally killed at a train station in North Carolina on August 22. The victim, 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska, was stabbed late at night at the East/West Boulevard light rail station in Charlotte’s South End.
Police said she suffered multiple stab wounds and was declared dead at the scene.
Who is Decarlos Brown Jr
The accused, 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder shortly after the attack. Police said Brown was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries before being booked.
“Brown was transported to Atrium Health with non-life-threatening injuries sustained at the time of the incident. Brown will be arrested upon his release. He is charged with First Degree Murder,” authorities said in a statement.
Brown has a long criminal history, with multiple arrests since 2011. His charges have included felony larceny, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and making threats. He previously served five years in prison for armed robbery, according to a report by Daily Mail.
Some of his earlier charges were later dropped, but records show he has remained in and out of the justice system for over a decade.
Struggling with mental health issues
Brown is homeless and has struggled with mental health issues. Earlier this year, he was arrested after misusing the 911 system during a police welfare check. In an affidavit, officers wrote that Brown believed someone had placed a “man-made” substance inside his body that controlled his movements and speech. Police told him he was experiencing a medical problem, but he insisted on his claims and called 911 again, leading to his arrest.
Court documents also show Brown has had frequent run-ins with police, and his erratic behavior has raised concerns in the past. Despite his history, he was out in public at the time of the attack. Authorities have not released a motive for the stabbing, and the investigation is ongoing.
Zarutska had recently moved to the US in search of peace and a fresh start. A GoFundMe page set up by her family described her as full of hope for a new life, but said her “life was cut short far too soon,” leaving her loved ones devastated.
Photos from the crime scene showed police tape around the station platform and a train halted nearby. Officers have not yet confirmed whether the attack happened inside the train, on the platform, or close to the station.