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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A 23-year-old woman who fled war in Ukraine was killed within minutes of stepping onto a Charlotte light rail train Friday night, police said.
Police say the Aug. 22 attack was random, and the man accused of stabbing her is now in custody.
Iryna Zarutska paints flowers on her wall. (Iryna Zarutska obituary)
Officers responded around 10 p.m. to the East/West Station on Camden Road after callers reported a woman had been attacked, records show.
Witnesses said the suspect, later identified as Decarlos Dejuan Brown Jr., was wearing the same clothing described by 911 callers, according to police. He was found on the outbound platform and taken to a hospital for treatment of a hand injury before being booked into jail, police said.
The victim, Iryna Zarutska, was found in the rear car of the train and pronounced dead at 10:05 p.m. after suffering a stab wound to the throat, according to an affidavit.
Surveillance video from inside the train shows Zarutska sitting in front of the suspect, according to investigators.
About four and a half minutes into the ride, the man pulled a knife from his pocket, stood up and attacked her, police said. The video shows blood dripping onto the floor as the suspect walked away, investigators said. Detectives said there appeared to be no prior interaction between the two.
A folding knife was recovered near the platform, police said. Authorities confirmed Brown is facing a murder charge.
Zarutska’s death has raised new concerns in Charlotte about the safety of public transportation, with community members calling for stronger protections on buses and trains.
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Jordan Kudisch
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