A Ukrainian refugee who fled war in her homeland died Friday night after a homeless man with an extensive criminal record allegedly stabbed her near a Charlotte, North Carolina, light rail station, authorities reported.
The victim was identified by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police (CMPD) as 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska, according to a press release. The crime scene was at the East/West Boulevard station in South End, and the alleged stabbing happened around 10:30 p.m., according to WSOC-TV.
Officers discovered multiple stab wounds and emergency responders declared her dead at the scene, according to the authorities. Police arrested the suspect, 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., and charged him with first-degree murder. Brown remains at Atrium Health with non-life-threatening injuries and will face formal detention upon discharge.
Court records show Brown’s criminal history spans more than a decade. Authorities charged him with conveying threats, robbery with a deadly weapon and felony larceny since 2011, the Charlotte Observer reported. Most of the charges were dropped, according to the outlet.
Brown also faces pending charges for allegedly abusing the 911 system in January.
Woman flees war-torn Ukraine, killed on Charlotte light rail https://t.co/jChqbB3GId
— WSOCTV (@wsoctv) August 25, 2025
During a January 2025 welfare check, Brown reportedly told officers that a “man-made material” was controlling his movements, speech and eating habits. He urged police to investigate the “man-made” substance he claimed was inside him, the outlet reported.
Police have not disclosed the suspect’s motive or confirmed whether the attack occurred on the train or platform. Detective Buhr leads the homicide investigation, and police requested anyone with information to contact the department. (RELATED: Man Stabbed To Death On NYC Subway After Getting His Shoes Stepped On)
A GoFundMe campaign now supports Zarutska’s aunt Valeria and other relatives. Campaign organizers wrote that Zarutska “had recently arrived in the United States, seeking safety from the war and hoping for a new beginning.” They described her death as “an irreparable loss” for the family.
The investigation continues as the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Homicide Unit processes evidence and interviews witnesses.