WASHINGTON – The Justice Department has charged a man with an extensive arrest history for the deadly stabbing of a Ukrainian refugee on a North Carolina train last month, making him eligible for the death penalty.
This federal charge follows increasing inquiries as to why Decarlos Brown Jr. was free, despite having faced 14 prior cases, before allegedly attacking 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska with a knife in a seemingly unprovoked assault caught on camera. The incident has become a focal point in discussions about whether cities like Charlotte are effectively managing violent crime, mental health issues, and public transport safety.
According to her relatives in a GoFundMe post, Zarutska had moved to the United States to escape the conflict in Ukraine, driven by the desire to create a more secure future for herself.
Brown was apprehended at the crime scene and charged with first-degree murder by local prosecutors. He also faces a federal charge for causing a death in a mass transit setting, which could result in life imprisonment or the death sentence.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said the killing was “a direct result of failed soft-on-crime policies that put criminals before innocent people.”
“We are committed to seeking the harshest penalty for this inexcusable act of violence — he will never walk free again,” Bondi stated.
While people convicted of first-degree murder in North Carolina might face the death penalty, the state has not executed anyone since 2006 due to legal disputes over the use of lethal injection drugs and the requirement for a doctor’s presence during executions, delaying proceedings.
Brown had cycled through the criminal justice system for more than a decade, with 14 prior cases in Mecklenburg County, including serving five years for robbery with a dangerous weapon, according to court records. He was arrested earlier this year after repeatedly calling 911 from a hospital, claiming people were trying to control him. A judge released him without bail.
His mother told local television she sought an involuntary psychiatric commitment this year after he became violent at home. Doctors diagnosed him with schizophrenia.
Video released Friday shows Zarutska entering the light-rail train and taking a seat in front of Brown, who was seated behind her. Minutes later, without any apparent interaction, he pulls out a pocketknife, stands and slashes her in the neck, investigators said. Passengers scream and scatter as she collapses.
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