Horrific footage has captured the moment a homeless man with an extensive criminal record fatally stabbed a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee from behind as she sat on a train in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The sickening unprovoked attack unfolded on 22 August, just minutes after Iryna Zarutska boarded a South End light rail train. The young woman, who had fled to America in 2022 seeking safety from Russia’s invasion of her homeland, was pronounced dead at the scene after being stabbed multiple times in the throat.
Police identified the attacker as Decarlos Brown Jr., 35, a career criminal with a lengthy rap sheet spanning nearly two decades, including armed robbery and assault charges. Surveillance footage obtained by local media shows Brown watching Zarutska for approximately four and a half minutes before pulling a knife from his pocket and launching the brutal assault.
Chilling Video Reveals Calculated Attack
The disturbing security footage, released by WBTV, shows Brown sitting on the train before Zarutska entered the carriage around 9:46 PM. The victim, wearing what appeared to be a black work uniform, sat directly in front of her future attacker without any interaction between the pair.
Brown can be seen in the footage appearing emotional and moving around in his seat before Zarutska boarded. After she sat down, he watched her for several minutes before taking out a pocket knife, unfolding it, standing up, and preparing to attack the unsuspecting woman who was looking at her phone.
The video shows Brown swinging his arm and stabbing Zarutska three times in the throat area before calmly walking away. The 23-year-old appeared visibly shocked by the sudden attack, falling to the floor shortly after whilst other passengers initially seemed unaware of what had transpired.
Brown was shown leaving a trail of blood throughout the train carriage as passengers began to realise the horror that had unfolded. He then removed his shirt before waiting to exit at the next station, where several passengers fled the carriage and could be seen running on the platform.
Career Criminal with Extensive History
A Daily Mail review of police records revealed Brown to be a repeat offender who has spent most of his adult life cycling in and out of the criminal justice system. His most recent arrest occurred as recently as January 2025, when he was charged with misusing emergency services.
During that incident, Brown told police he believed someone had given him a “man-made” material that was controlling his actions, including when he ate, walked, and talked. Despite these concerning mental health indicators, he was released without bail with a trial pending when he allegedly murdered Zarutska.
Brown’s criminal history stretches back to 2007 when he was still a minor. Over the following seven years, he was arrested at least six times for crimes including felony larceny, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and communicating threats.
Five Years in Prison for Armed Robbery
In 2014, Brown was convicted of armed robbery and sentenced to five years in state prison. He was released in September 2020, but his freedom was short-lived as he quickly returned to criminal behaviour.
Just months after his release, in February 2021, Brown was arrested for assaulting his sister in Charlotte, leaving her with minor injuries according to police records obtained by the Daily Mail. That same month, he faced additional charges for injury to personal property and trespassing.
A police report from the trespassing incident stated: [Brown] returned to the address after being told he was not allowed back and kicked and damaged the front door of the listed victim’s residence.”
Pattern of Domestic Violence and Disturbances
Brown’s post-prison years were marked by a pattern of domestic violence and public disturbances. In July 2022, he was arrested for a domestic disturbance, with police reporting: “The suspect was yelling and cursing, causing a disturbance and drawing the attention of multiple tenants while on the property.
According to the Charlotte Observer, most of the charges Brown faced during his criminal career were inexplicably dropped, allowing him to remain on the streets despite his violent history.
When reached for comment about Brown’s repeated releases, the Mecklenburg District Attorney’s Office told the Daily Mail they cannot discuss defendants with pending cases, but stated: “In broad terms, it remains the position of the District Attorney’s office that those who commit violent crimes should be held in custody pending trial.
Ukrainian Refugee’s Tragic Journey
Zarutska’s heartbroken family revealed on a GoFundMe page that she had arrived in the United States in 2022 “seeking safety from the war” in Ukraine and “hoping for a new beginning” in America. The young woman held a degree in art restoration from Synergy College in Kyiv and had been studying English at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.
“Dear friends, our Valeria has suffered a terrible tragedy,” the fundraiser reads, referring to Zarutska’s aunt. “Yesterday, her niece Ira, who was 22 years old, was killed. Ira had recently arrived in the United States, seeking safety from the war and hoping for a new beginning. Tragically, her life was cut short far too soon.”
The family described her death as “an irreparable loss” and said they created the fundraiser “to support Valeria and her loved ones during this heartbreaking time and to help them with the unexpected expenses.” The campaign has raised over £9,600 ($12,000) from the local community.
Community Demands Answers
The brutal killing has sparked outrage among Charlotte residents and city officials, with local Councilman Edwin Peacock demanding answers from authorities about public transport safety.
“Right now, the trust and confidence that we have right now, and particularly between South End and Uptown, it’s very fragile right now,” Peacock said at a city council meeting. “The story is heart-wrenching, and if, obviously what we’re hearing is true, clearly we need to give that family answers.”
He added: “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.”
At-Large Council member Dimple Ajmera echoed these concerns, stating: “I’ve heard from several constituents regarding how they’re afraid to ride our public buses, especially after recent violent incidents.”
No Apparent Motive for Attack
Police have confirmed there was no interaction between Brown and Zarutska before the fatal assault, with the attack appearing to be entirely random. The affidavit obtained by the Charlotte Observer states: “There appears to be no interaction between the victim and defendant.”
Brown was arrested shortly after the incident and initially hospitalised with non-life-threatening injuries before being charged with first-degree murder. His bond was subsequently denied by a judge, and he remains in custody awaiting trial.
The court has also ordered Brown to undergo a competency evaluation, given his history of mental health concerns and his previous claims about being controlled by “man-made” materials.
Questions About Criminal Justice System
The case has raised serious questions about why Brown was repeatedly released despite his extensive criminal history and apparent mental health issues. His pattern of arrests, releases, and re-offending culminated in the senseless murder of an innocent young woman who had already fled one life-threatening situation.
A family friend who knew Zarutska told WCNC: “She was always very helpful, very supportive, and just had a heart of gold. She was a sweetheart. And it makes me sick to think that she’s gone.”
The friend added that Zarutska had been working hard to build a new life in America, having escaped the horrors of war in her homeland only to meet a violent end in what should have been a routine journey on public transport.
Transit Authority Response
The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) confirmed that the light rail operator was made aware of the stabbing and followed protocol by keeping the train at the station whilst waiting for police to arrive. However, questions remain about security measures on the city’s public transport system.
The East/West Boulevard station where the attack occurred is a busy stop in the South End area, typically considered one of Charlotte’s safer neighbourhoods. The random nature of the attack has left many residents questioning their safety on what is meant to be routine public transport.
Local authorities have not announced any immediate changes to security protocols on the light rail system, though the incident has prompted calls for increased police presence and better surveillance on public transport.
Fleeing War to Find Violence
The tragic irony of Zarutska’s death – fleeing a war zone only to be killed in a random act of violence – has not been lost on the Ukrainian community and those supporting refugees.
She represents one of millions of Ukrainians who have fled their country since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, seeking safety and new opportunities abroad. Her senseless murder highlights the vulnerabilities faced by refugees trying to rebuild their lives in unfamiliar surroundings.
As Brown awaits trial for first-degree murder, Zarutska’s family and the broader Charlotte community are left grappling with questions about how a man with such an extensive criminal history was free to commit such a heinous act against an innocent young woman who had already endured so much.
Follow for more updates on Britannia Daily
