Ukrainian War Refugee Fatally Stabbed In ‘Unprovoked’ Attack

A 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee who recently fled her war-torn nation for safety in the United States was stabbed to death by a homeless man with a lengthy criminal history in an “unprovoked” attack.

Iryna Zarutska suffered multiple knife wounds and was pronounced dead at the East/West Boulevard light rail station in South End, Charlotte just before 10 p.m. this past Friday, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department announced Saturday.

According to a GoFundMe page established by the victim’s family, Zarutska had “recently arrived in the United States, seeking safety from the war and hoping for a new beginning,” the page reads. “Tragically, her life was cut short far too soon.”

Iryna Zarutska
Photo: GoFundMe

Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s homicide unit identified the alleged killer as Decarlos Brown Jr., 34. The accused killer was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries at the time of the incident.

Brown is a homeless man with a lengthy criminal history, including a five-year prison stint for robbery with a deadly weapon. In July, his public defender made a motion questioning his ability to proceed in a court case involving misuse of the 911 emergency system.

That criminal charged stemmed from a January incident, when police said he called 911 and claimed someone gave him man-made material that controlled when he ate, talked and walked The judge in that case ordered a forensic evaluation, but ultimately released Brown with a written notice to appear, according to local outlet WSOC-TV.

Decarlos Brown Jr

Additional criminal cases against Brown had been dropped in the past, according to records reviewed by the Charlotte Observer. In total, he has been the subject of 14 criminal incidents in Mecklenburg county.

Councilman Edwin Peacock, a Republican, is demanding answers from police and prosecutors as to how someone with Brown’s record could be released back onto the streets. “Right now, the trust and confidence that we have right now, and particularly between South End and Uptown, it’s very fragile right now,” he said.

The councilman is demanding a review of security procedures to avoid a repeat of the tragic incident. “The story is heart-wrenching, and if, obviously what we’re hearing is true, clearly we need to give that family answers,” he said. “And we, more importantly, need to give all the citizens who are riding the light rail a lot of confidence that you’re going to be safe.”

Police have not released additional details on what led up to the stabbing, though the incident has been described as “unprovoked.” The investigation is ongoing as of this report.