Woman flees war-torn Ukraine, killed on Charlotte light rail

CHARLOTTE — Iryna Zarutska, 23, who police said was stabbed to death on Friday night on the light rail in Charlotte, had fled war-torn Ukraine, according to a GoFundMe page her friends set up.

The deadly stabbing happened at about 10:30 p.m.

PAST COVERAGE: Suspect, victim identified in South End stabbing

The crime scene was at the East/West Station in South End.

South End Stabbing MEDIC said they responded to the Lynx station near Camden Road around 10:20 p.m. (WSOC.)

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department will charge DeCarlos Brown, 34, who is homeless and has a lengthy criminal history, with first-degree murder. He was sent to a hospital, where he remained on Monday.

Brown spent five years in prison for robbery with a deadly weapon.

In July, his public defender made a motion questioning his ability to proceed in his court case about misusing the 911 system. The judge ordered a forensic evaluation but he was allowed to be out and about.

In January 2025, Decarlos Brown was arrested for misuse of a 911 system. Court records say Brown called 911 from Novant Hospital and claimed someone gave him "man made material" that was controlling when he ate, walked and talked. Not satisfied with the officer's response that… pic.twitter.com/tum3IWts7Z
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) August 25, 2025

That criminal charged stemmed from January when police said he called 911 and claimed someone gave him man-made material that controlled when he ate, talked and walked. The magistrate allowed him to be released from jail without paying anything on a written promise to appear.

Councilman Edwin Peacock, R-District 6, is demanding answers from CMPD and CATS.

“Right now, the trust and confidence that we have right now, and particularly between South End and Uptown, it’s very fragile right now,” he said.

Peacock wants to know what, if any, security measures were in place and what changes the city needs to make so this never happens again.

“The story is heart-wrenching, and if, obviously what we’re hearing is true, clearly we need to give that family answers,” he said. “And we, more importantly, need to give all the citizens who are riding the light rail a lot of confidence that you’re going to be safe.”

CATS confirmed the light rail operator was made aware of the stabbing.

They followed protocol by keeping the train at the station while they waited for the police to arrive.

Police have not said what led up to the stabbing.

Brown’s first appearance in court has not hasn’t been set.

VIDEO: Suspect, victim identified in South End stabbing