The family of Iryna Zarutska has sued the City of Charlotte, alleging “systemic failures” in the transit system contributed to her killing, nearly a year after the Ukrainian refugee’s fatal stabbing on a city light rail train shocked the United States.
Zarutska, 23, was stabbed to death while riding a CATS light rail train on August 22, 2025. Disturbing footage allegedly showed DeCarlos Brown Jr attacking her and stabbing her in the neck, leaving her bleeding and pleading for help from passengers on the crowded tram before she died.
The lawsuit names both the Queen City and its private transit security contractor, Professional Security Services (PSS), accusing them of being aware of safety risks on and around the light rail system before Zarutska’s death, according to the filing cited by WBTV.
The complaint, filed by attorney Lauren Newton on behalf of Zarutska’s family, argues that long-running “systemic failures” left the Charlotte Area Transit System exposed to preventable dangers.
“What it shows is the systemic failures that have been within the CATS system for years that the city has been aware of,” Newton told WBTV.
“Number one, there are no physical barriers to prevent a non-ticketed individual from getting on the light rail or bus. Number two, there’s no fare enforcement.”
The lawsuit further claims that PSS did not have adequate staffing in place on the night Zarutska was killed.
According to the filing, the City of Charlotte funded 219 transit security positions for fiscal years 2025 and 2026, but only 183 security staff members were allegedly on the roster when the young woman was fatally attacked.
The family of Iryna Zarutska filed a lawsuit against the City of Charlotte and its private transit security contractor, Professional Security Services a year after she was fatally stabbed aboard CATS light rail train
The city and its private transit security contractor, were named in the suit for allegedly knowing about the dangers on or around the light rail system before Zarutska’s death
The lawsuit added that, under the budget, 39 guards were supposed to be armed but claimed that only 11 were on staff at the time.
The city was also accused in the lawsuit of instructing light rail conductors not to confront passengers who do not pay fares. The filing additionally cited four other homicides and assaults that occurred near Blue Line stops in recent years, according to the outlet.
‘Violent crime was absolutely foreseeable,’ Newton added. ‘Violent crime and attacks on CATS workers were one of the main reasons there was no fare enforcement.’
The filing claimed that Zarutska’s killer did not pay the light rail fare before boarding the tram.
Surveillance footage from the tragic night appeared to show the career criminal watching Zarutska for some time as she sat in the row directly in front of him before taking a blade from his pocket.
Brown then stood up and loomed over her, swinging the knife at her while she sat on her phone.
As he exited the train, Brown left behind a trail of blood, though other passengers did not appear to realize a murder had occurred in front of them.
Video then showed Zarutska curled up with her knees against her chest and her hands over her mouth as she looked up at her attacker. About 15 seconds later, she fell to the floor.
The man accused of murdering Iryna, Decarlos Brown Jr, had spent most of his life in and out of prison, serving five years behind bars for an armed robbery with a dangerous weapon.
He was seen on surveillance footage standing up and looming over the 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, swinging the knife at her as she sat on her phone
Brown was formally declared unfit to stand trial. In June, he repeatedly interrupted proceedings during a hearing in Charlotte, demanding to know whether the judge had reviewed his mental health evaluation and insisting that he wanted to press charges against the FBI.
He continued shouting as court officers moved to escort him from the courtroom, making remarks about having ‘material in his body’ and asking whether the judge had received a letter from his mother.
Brown is charged federally with causing death on a mass transportation system, an offense punishable by death.
He also faces a separate state charge of first-degree murder, although that case has been paused while federal proceedings move forward.
US District Judge Kenneth D Bell ordered Brown committed to a federal medical facility for treatment after mental health experts concluded that he is presently unable to understand the legal proceedings against him or properly assist in his own defense.
According to court filings, Brown has repeatedly claimed he is suffering from what he calls a ‘body emergency’ and believes someone has gained control of his body through technology that authorities refuse to investigate.
Erika Kirk (Pictured Left) was seen embracing Anna Zarutska (Right), the mother of Iryna Zarutska, who was killed by a career criminal during the State of the Union in February
The President spoke about his efforts to make the United States safer when he brought up Zarutska’s shocking murder at the State of the Union address in February.
‘We are honored to be joined tonight by a woman who’s been through hell,’ Donald Trump said as he introduced Zarutska’s mother, Anna, and told how their family fled war-torn Ukraine to live with relatives near Charlotte.
He then decried how a ‘deranged monster who had been arrested over a dozen times and released through cash bail stood up and viciously slashed a knife through [Iryna’s] neck and body.
‘No one will ever forget there were people on that train,’ Trump said. ‘No one will ever forget the expression of terror on Iryna’s face as she looked up at her attacker at the last seconds of her life – she died instantly.’
‘She had escaped a brutal war only to be slain by a hardened criminal, set free to kill,’ he continued, before addressing Anna directly.
‘Mrs Zarutska, tonight I promise you we will ensure justice for your magnificent daughter, Iryna.’
As the President spoke, Anna was seen bawling into a tissue.
The family is seeking damages exceeding $25,000 and punitive damages against PSS.
The Daily Mail has reached out to PSS, the City of Charlotte, and PSS for comment.
