Charlotte residents say they feel less safe as city faces second transit stabbing
Share this @internewscast.com

In Charlotte, North Carolina, a recent survey reveals that two-thirds of locals feel less secure now compared to a year ago, a sentiment amplified by two recent violent incidents on the city’s train system.

Over 930 participants contributed to the survey conducted prior to the appointment of the new police chief, Stella Patterson. The findings showed a strong preference for a proactive policing strategy, with 66% of respondents expressing increased concerns about their safety.

This heightened unease arises as Charlotte faces yet another stabbing incident on its light rail, following the previous attack on Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska.

On Friday, officers from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) were called to the scene of an assault involving a deadly weapon. Upon arrival, they discovered Kenyon Kareem-Shemar Dobie suffering from a stab wound, as detailed in the warrants.

Oscar Solarzano's mugshot

Oscar Solarzano, a 33-year-old from Honduras, was apprehended in connection with the light rail stabbing in Charlotte. (Mecklenburg County Jail)

Solarzano faces charges including attempted first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, breaking and entering a motor vehicle, carrying a concealed weapon, and disorderly conduct due to intoxication. These charges are based on information from various Department of Homeland Security sources and arrest warrants reviewed by Fox News Digital.

CMPD noted Dobie was in critical but stable condition when he was taken to a hospital.

The victim told WRAL News that he saw Solarzano yelling at an older woman before Solarzano handed his bike to another passenger and said: “I’m about to show you who I really am.”

“I wasn’t trying to be a macho man,” Dobie said in a TikTok post from his hospital room. “But what I won’t allow is you to attack random people for no reason, especially the elderly.”

Dobie said he jumped up and told Solarzano to leave everyone alone. He said Solarzano then grabbed his hands and stabbed him as he tried to grab him back.

On Monday morning, Solarzano appeared in court, where he was denied bond.

Charlotte LYNX train

Police in North Carolina have charged a 33-year-old man from Honduras with critically injuring another person in a stabbing on a Charlotte commuter train, just a few months after a Ukrainian refugee was murdered. (WJZY)

According to court documents, reviewed by Fox News Digital, Solarzano broke into a railroad car “with the intent to commit a felony,” while carrying a large fixed-blade knife.

While intoxicated, he challenged Dobie to a fight, cursing and shouting at others using “unintelligible and slurred words,” according to court documents.

He was booted from the country by the Trump administration in March 2018 on a deportation order and reentered illegally during the Biden administration at the Texas border in March 2021, DHS sources said.

WATCH: Migrant who was deported twice accused of Charlotte light rail stabbing

Solarzano was deported a second time by the Biden administration and reentered illegally as a got-away at an unknown time and location.

Solarzano has a prior conviction for robbery in the U.S. and prior arrests for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, resisting arrest and false ID, DHS sources said.

Court records indicate he had known aliases, including Solarzano-Garcia, Oscar Herardo and Kevin Garcia.

Karoline Leavitt next to projected photos of Iryna Zarutska and Decarlos Brown Jr.

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks alongside a photo of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, who was allegedly killed by Decarlos Brown Jr., on a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina, at the White House, Sept. 9, 2025. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

The stabbing attack comes months after Zarutska, 23, was fatally stabbed on a LYNX Blue Line light rail while on her way home from work from a local pizzeria shop.

Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, who is accused of killing Zarutska, was charged with violence against a railroad carrier and mass transportation system resulting in death, a capital offense under federal law.

Brown had a history of violent crime, including assaults and robberies, and had also been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Yet he was still free and walking the streets.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the city of Charlotte and the CMPD for comment.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Wild photos show firefighters battling massive 5-alarm fire at historic NYC church

Stunning Photos Capture Heroic Firefighters Tackling Devastating 5-Alarm Blaze at Iconic NYC Church

Striking images have emerged of firefighters valiantly combating an intense 5-alarm blaze…
Memphis dog-walker makes haunting discovery: Bones of 3 children

Memphis Dog-Walker’s Shocking Find: Remains of Three Children Unearthed

In a harrowing development out of Tennessee, a dog-walker has become an…
San Diego cuts deal with Disney that will bring huge boost to port traffic

San Diego Secures Landmark Deal with Disney to Skyrocket Port Traffic and Economic Growth

Disney Cruise Line is making a significant commitment to San Diego’s port,…
Mamdani prioritizes $2.5B for NYCHA green upgrades as tenants’ homes crumble

Mamdani Allocates $2.5B for Eco-Friendly NYCHA Upgrades Amid Tenant Housing Challenges

Residents of New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) properties are voicing their…
Suspect accused of hurling chainsaw at deputies during chaotic stolen car chase caught on video

Wild Pursuit: Suspect Throws Chainsaw at Deputies in Stolen Car Chase Caught on Video

A dramatic police chase unfolded in Washington state, escalating to a dangerous…
Tranquilized bear that fell from tree in Albany released back into the wild

Tranquilized Bear Rescued from Albany Tree Successfully Returned to Natural Habitat

The escape was a bear necessity! The black bear that captured the…
UK passes ban on cigarette purchases for anyone born after 2008

UK Implements Historic Cigarette Ban for Post-2008 Generation: A Major Step Towards Tobacco-Free Future

In a significant legislative move, the UK Parliament has approved a groundbreaking…
US soldier Gannon Ken Van Dyke charged with using intel to win $400K Polymarket bet on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro raid

US Soldier Accused of Leveraging Military Intel for $400K Polymarket Bet on Venezuelan President Raid

WASHINGTON — A member of the U.S. special forces has been indicted…
At Tiny Doll House, craft the fun-sized world of your dreams

Discover Your Dream Miniature Realm: Explore Creativity at Tiny Doll House

NEW YORK — Nestled in the heart of the Upper East Side,…
Plan to ban kids from social media pushed forward by California lawmakers

California Lawmakers Propel Groundbreaking Ban on Kids’ Social Media Usage: What It Means for the Future

California legislators are advancing a contentious proposal aimed at prohibiting children under…
Trump storms most violent US city with federal muscle as police group warns of soft-on-crime consequences

Revolutionizing Safety: How This Blue City Achieved a 40% Drop in Violent Crime – A Model for Urban Transformation

Memphis has become a beacon of hope and a model for tackling…
Texas assistant principal Lindsay Velasquez killed by husband: cops

Tragic Loss: Texas Assistant Principal Lindsay Velasquez Fatally Shot by Husband, Police Report

An assistant principal from a Texas elementary school tragically lost her life…