CHARLOTTE — President Donald Trump said Sunday that he will be looking into the murder of a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee on the light rail in Charlotte.
CMPD says Iryna Zarutska was stabbed to death on the light rail in South End by Decarlos Brown on Aug. 22, and CATS released surveillance video of the attack Friday.
The president was on a tarmac in Maryland when a reporter asked him about that video.
“When did this happen?” Trump said. “I see the video. I’ll know all about it by tomorrow morning.”
In a press briefing at the Museum of the Bible Monday, Trump addressed the incident, saying in part, “I give my love and hope to the family of the young woman who was stabbed in Charlotte by a madman — a lunatic — while she’s just sitting there. There are evil people. We have to be able to handle that. If we don’t handle that, we don’t have a country."
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North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein also commented on the attack Monday.
“I am heartbroken for the family of Iryna Zarutska, who lost their loved one to this senseless act of violence, and I am appalled by the footage of her murder,” he said. “We need more cops on the best to keep people safe.”
I am heartbroken for the family of Iryna Zarutska, who lost their loved one to this senseless act of violence, and I am appalled by the footage of her murder. We need more cops on the beat to keep people safe. That’s why my budget calls for more funding to hire more well-trained…
— Governor Josh Stein (@NC_Governor) September 8, 2025
Stein also referenced his budget requests calling for funding for police officers and training.
However, CATS has its own security officers who are separate from CMPD.
VIDEO: CATS releases video of deadly random stabbing on light rail
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