Silicon Valley is stepping in after the killing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska shocked the nation.
Eoghan McCabe, CEO and founder of Intercom, committed $500,000 to commission murals of Zarutska’s face in major U.S. cities.
“I am offering $500k in $10k grants to paint murals of the face of Iryna Zarutska in prominent US city locations,” McCabe wrote.
Those who want to participate in or donate to the initiative are encouraged to contact McCabe’s chief of staff, Katie Brenske Tolstedt.
McCabe’s post drew the attention of tech billionaire Elon Musk, who responded with an offer to donate $1 million. Musk has also been vocal about Zarutska’s case, especially concerning the media coverage of the incident and the public’s response.
“I have witnessed the terrible video of a lovely, young Ukrainian refugee who fled to America to escape the brutal War in Ukraine and was simply riding the Metro in Charlotte, North Carolina, when she was savagely attacked by a mentally ill individual. The attacker was a notorious career criminal who had been arrested and let out on CASHLESS BAIL in January, a total of 14 TIMES. Why was he permitted on the train and roaming the streets? Criminals like this should be LOCKED UP,” Trump remarked.
Zarutska arrived in the U.S. in August 2022 to escape the Russia-Ukraine conflict. She was working at Zepeddie’s Pizzeria and was dressed in her work attire at the time of the attack.
“This could have been anyone riding the light rail that evening. We are resolved to ensure this never occurs again,” Zarutska’s family stated in their first public comment since her death.
Iryna Zarutska, 23, was killed when taking a train in Charlotte, N.C., on Aug. 22, 2025. (@lucaveros225/Instagram; WBTV; Evgeniya Rush/GoFundMe)
Zarutska was on a Lynx Blue Line train in Charlotte when she sat in front of a man in a red hoodie, later identified as Brown. Shortly after sitting behind Zarutska, Brown is recorded standing up and stabbing the young woman.
Brown was apprehended soon after the incident and charged with first-degree murder. On Tuesday, the Justice Department added a charge for committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system.
