CHARLOTTE — The suspect in a stabbing that took place Friday near the Blue Line in South End was injured in his attack. Once he recovers, police said he will be charged with first-degree murder.
The incident happened around 10 p.m. Friday night.
“Upon arrival, victim was located with apparent stab wounds,” said Major Ryan Kendall with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. “MEDIC responded and unfortunately pronounced that victim deceased on the scene.”
Police identified the victim as Iryna Zarutska, 23. Her alleged assailant is Decarlos Brown, 34. Police have not said if they knew each other and the possibility that this could have been random worries some passengers.
“That can happen to anybody,” said passenger Brooks Lacoste. “It could happen to anybody on the train and that can be a cause of concern.”
Police have not said anything about a motive.
Brown does have a record. In January, he was arrested for being on or near a Novant Health Property and police were called to do a welfare check.
According to an affidavit, Brown believed someone gave him a “man-made” material that controlled when he ate, walked, talked, etc. Brown wanted officers to investigate this man-made material that was inside his body.
Officers told him they couldn’t and so he allegedly called police and was arrested for misusing the 911 system.
Because of Friday’s incident, people near the light rail station are nervous. Erika Polyi owns a coffee truck and said the incident was certainly very concerning, especially being alone.
There’s a heavy security presence at the East Boulevard station. Some passengers think more officers would help prevent more violence.
“It could be better of course,” said Steven Kee, a passenger. “You can’t be around everywhere at one time.”
We don’t know much about the victim except that she is 23-years-old. Police have informed her family about the incident.
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