DOJ Files Federal Charge Against Suspect in Fatal Charlotte Train Stabbing
Federal authorities have charged Decarlos Dejuan Brown Jr. with committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system after the brutal stabbing of Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, aboard a Charlotte light rail train on August 22.
The Department of Justice announced Tuesday that Brown, a repeat offender with 14 prior arrests, now faces federal prosecution alongside existing state murder charges. Attorney General Pam Bondi vowed to seek the maximum penalty, calling the attack “an unforgivable act of violence” and citing failures of “soft-on-crime policies.”
FBI Director Kash Patel condemned the killing as “a disgraceful act that should never happen in America,” stressing the agency’s commitment to ensuring Brown never again walks free. Officials revealed that Zarutska, who had fled war-torn Ukraine, was working multiple jobs and had recently moved in with her partner as she built a new life in Charlotte.
Court records indicate Brown stabbed Zarutska three times in what investigators described as a seemingly unprovoked attack. He walked off the train with the bloodied knife still in hand.
At an emotional press conference, U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson highlighted Zarutska’s resilience, noting her family’s decision to have her buried in America because “she loved this country.”
Prosecutors confirmed they will pursue life without parole, and investigators are reviewing whether the death penalty can be applied. The case underscores growing calls for tougher sentencing against violent repeat offenders.
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