CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WJZY) – The family of Iryna Zarutska, the woman murdered on a North Carolina commuter train last month, is advocating for justice, public safety reform, and asking the public to cease sharing surveillance footage of the incident.
Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, was fatally stabbed on the light rail, just minutes from her residence. The accused, Decarlos Brown Jr., has been charged with first-degree murder, and additionally on Tuesday, with a federal charge related to causing a death on a mass transportation system.
The Charlotte law firm Tin Fulton Walker & Owen is representing Zarutska’s family. This announcement follows increased national attention and critique aimed at Charlotte officials, occurring more than two weeks after the incident.
They noted she had established a new life in Charlotte after relocating there three years ago. Employed full-time at a local pizzeria — evident from the shirt she was wearing at the time of her death — she was also attending community college to enhance her English skills.
“That night, she texted her boyfriend that she would be home soon,” they explained. “Concerns arose among her loved ones when she didn’t arrive at her apartment as expected, and her phone’s location indicated she remained at the station. Upon reaching the station, they were heartbroken to discover Iryna had died on the scene.”
The train’s surveillance footage was made public on Friday. The family is appealing to the public and media to “respect Iryna’s dignity and their grief” by refraining from sharing the footage of her death.
“We are heartbroken beyond words,” said a family spokesperson. “Iryna came here to find peace and safety, and instead her life was stolen from her in the most horrific way. No family should have to go through this.”
Seeking change
The family’s immediate priority is to ensure the man responsible for Zarutska’s murder is brought to justice and remains behind bars. However, they are also calling attention to public safety, sharing concerns over a perceived lack of:
- Security presence on the CATS Blue Line
- Oversight in the contract between CATS and Professional Security Services (PSS), and
- Further safety measures
The family is demanding a full investigation into the circumstances leading up to Zarutska’s death, alleging lapses in security protocols and failures within the public transportation system.
“This could have been anyone riding the light rail that night,” said the family. “We are committed to making sure this never happens again.”
On Monday, Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles announced immediate changes to security on CATS properties, including adding Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers.
“These changes will allow CATS to fully execute the transit system policing plan, including the Blue Line,” she said.
Brown is being held in the Mecklenburg County jail without bond. President Donald Trump has called for him to face the death penalty.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said the killing was “a direct result of failed soft-on-crime policies that put criminals before innocent people.”
“We will seek the maximum penalty for this unforgivable act of violence — he will never again see the light of day as a free man,” Bondi said in a statement.
The death penalty is a potential punishment for people convicted of first-degree murder in North Carolina. However, the state has not carried out an execution since 2006. Legal challenges over the use of lethal injection drugs and a doctor’s presence at executions have in part delayed action.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
