CHARLOTTE, NC — What should have been an ordinary evening commute turned into a nightmare on August 22, 2025, when 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee who fled the war in her homeland, was brutally attacked and fatally stabbed on Charlotte’s Lynx Blue Line light rail train. The shocking act of violence, caught on surveillance cameras, has left the community reeling and her family thousands of miles away in unimaginable grief.

A Sudden, Unprovoked Attack
Iryna boarded the train shortly before 10 p.m., still dressed in her Zepeddie’s Pizzeria work uniform after finishing her evening shift. She found a seat on the train, unaware that tragedy would strike just minutes later. Directly behind her sat 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., who had been riding quietly.

For more than four minutes, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. But then, without provocation or warning, Brown reached into his pocket, pulled out a folding knife, and carefully unfolded it. After pausing briefly, he stood up and launched his attack.

Brown stabbed Iryna three times, including at least once in the neck. She clutched her throat and collapsed to the floor as blood pooled beneath her. Passengers on board were horrified. Surveillance footage shows Brown calmly walking away from her body, removing his bloodstained sweatshirt, and waiting near the train doors as though nothing had happened.

When the train reached the next station, Brown stepped off, where officers were already waiting. He was arrested without resistance.

The Loss of a Young Life
First responders rushed to save Iryna, but it was too late. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Her killing has devastated Charlotte’s Ukrainian refugee community, many of whom came to the city after fleeing Russia’s invasion in 2022.

Iryna’s journey to America was motivated by the hope of safety, stability, and a future free from the violence she left behind in Ukraine. Friends and coworkers remember her as hardworking, gentle, and full of dreams. She had been building a new life in Charlotte, working shifts at the pizzeria while making plans for her future.

A Community in Shock
The brutal nature of the attack has shaken residents, many of whom regularly rely on public transit. The thought that such violence could occur in a confined space—without warning, without motive—has left many fearful and demanding answers.

Charlotte officials and the Lynx Blue Line transit authority have pledged to review security protocols and increase police presence on trains in the wake of the tragedy. Community members have also called for more support for refugees, who often arrive in the U.S. with little protection or resources.

Justice for Iryna
Brown now faces murder charges and is being held in custody as investigators work to understand what led to the unprovoked stabbing. Authorities have not yet determined a motive. His calm demeanor following the attack, captured on surveillance footage, has only added to the chilling nature of the crime.

For Iryna’s family—still in Ukraine—news of her death has been almost unbearable. Having watched their daughter flee war to seek safety in America, they are now left grappling with the devastating reality that her life was cut short in an act of senseless violence.

Remembering Iryna
Tributes have poured in from friends, coworkers, and community members. Many describe Iryna as a bright young woman who always greeted others with kindness and a smile, even when working long hours. She carried herself with resilience, determination, and hope for a better future—qualities that make her death feel all the more heartbreaking.

A candlelight vigil is being planned in Charlotte to honor her memory and to give the community a place to grieve together. For those who knew her, and for those who are just learning her story, Iryna’s life stands as a reminder of both the fragility of safety and the need to protect vulnerable communities.

As her loved ones mourn, one truth is clear: Iryna Zarutska’s life mattered. Though her journey was tragically cut short, her memory will live on in the hearts of her family, friends, and all those who refuse to let this tragedy be forgotten.