A deadly stabbing on Charlotte’s light rail system has left one woman dead and another passenger shaken but determined to speak out. Police said the suspect, 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., fatally stabbed 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska during a ride Monday. Investigators confirmed the attack was random and that Brown did not know his victim.
When officers arrived, fellow passengers pointed to Brown, who remained at the scene and was taken into custody. Witnesses described the chaos and fear inside the train as the attack unfolded, with riders rushing to escape while others tried to help.
Zarutska had recently moved to Charlotte from war-torn Ukraine, according to a GoFundMe created by friends. The fundraiser describes her as a young woman seeking safety and new opportunities, only to have her life cut short in a violent and senseless act.
