Featured Image Credit: Charlotte CATS
Topics: Crime, News, North Carolina, Ukraine, US News
Callum Jones
Topics: Crime, News, North Carolina, Ukraine, US News
Warning: This article contains content which some readers may find distressing.
The family of a Ukrainian refugee who was stabbed to death on a train in Charlotte, North Carolina, have spoken out.
Iryna Zarutska was stabbed in what appeared to be a completely random attack on August 22, with Decarlos Brown Jr. arrested just minutes later, after he was met by police at the next stop.
Zarutska was a refugee after she fled the war in Ukraine with her mother, sister and brother. She was just 23 years old.
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Video footage showed Zarutska boarding the CATS Blue Line while wearing headphones as she took a seat in the row in front of Brown, who had his hand over his face. The pair did not interact in any way, as Zarutska proceeded to look at her phone.
Just a few moments after she boarded the train, Brown appeared to remove something from his pocket.
Brown walked to the other end of the train after Zarutska was stabbed and removed his hoodie, while passengers rushed to help her.
The family of Zarutska are now demanding justice is served after the brutal stabbing.
"We are heartbroken beyond words. Iryna came here to find peace and safety, and instead her life was stolen from her in the most horrific way," a family spokesperson said in a statement issued by lawyers, as per WSCOC-9.
"No family should have to go through this."
Brown was hit with a federal charge of causing death on a mass transportation system on Monday (September 8), which could see him receive the death penalty if convicted.
Meanwhile, he has also been charged with first-degree murder. On top of that, Brown has 13 prior convictions, including for armed robbery.
After footage was released of the horrible incident, Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles said in a statement: "The video of the heartbreaking attack that took Iryna Zarutska's life is now public. I want to thank our media partners and community members who have chosen not to repost or share the footage out of respect for Iryna's family.
"This was a senseless and tragic loss. My prayers remain with her loved ones as they continue to grieve through an unimaginable time. Like so many of you, I'm heartbroken - and I've been thinking hard about what safety really looks like in our city. I remain committed to doing all we can to protect our residents and ensure Charlotte is a place where everyone feels safe."