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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WJZY) — Transit safety will be the focus of a special meeting in Uptown Charlotte Wednesday morning.
The meeting comes about a week and a half after a woman, 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska, was fatally stabbed while riding the Blue Line in South End.
Shannon Binns, a transit advocate with Sustain Charlotte, called the murder of Zarutska devastating, noting this violent attack was a dramatic escalation from other crime scenes on public transit in the Queen City.
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“This is just so unusual. So exceedingly rare. I think that added a whole other level of shock,” said Binns.
Public shock is likely what motivated Mayor Vi Lyles to call a special meeting of the Metropolitan Transit Commission.
CATS officials are expected to be asked around a dozen questions centered around current security practices and possible enhancements that could be made. Those questions were outlined in a letter to be sent to CATS Director Brent Cagle, who will be asked about the security ratio to ridership, security personnel training, and short-term improvements.
Binns told Queen City News he wants to see what could have been done on the front end, as the man accused of murdering Zarutska, DeCarlos Brown, had a history of violent crime and mental illness.
“I’d like to hear a plan for how we’re going to increase support for the mentally ill and homeless in our community,” added Binns.
Wednesday’s meeting is set to start at 9 am and last about two hours.
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Andy Weber
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