Extended Surveillance Footage Reveals Fatal Stabbing on Charlotte Light Rail
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Newly released surveillance footage has shed further light on the fatal stabbing of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee, aboard Charlotte’s Lynx Blue Line light rail train on August 22, 2025.
The video, compiled from several synchronized cameras, shows the suspect, 35-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., rise from his seat behind Zarutska before producing a pocketknife and attacking her while she was distracted on her phone. After the assault, Brown is seen walking through the train with the weapon in hand, leaving blood behind.
At one point, he removed his bloodied hoodie and waited calmly for the next station before exiting. Passengers nearby appeared either unaware of the severity of the incident or chose not to intervene.
The killing, described by officials as a “brutal and senseless act of violence,” has reignited debate over public safety on Charlotte’s transit system.
Brown, who is homeless, has a lengthy criminal record dating back to 2014, including armed robbery and multiple assault convictions. He was released from prison in 2020, re-arrested in 2021, and remained free despite his record at the time of the attack.
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles thanked media outlets that withheld graphic video clips “out of respect for Iryna’s family,” but critics argue that downplayed coverage highlights broader issues of crime and accountability.
City Council candidate Edwin Peacock and former Matthews Mayor Jim Taylor have both called for stronger safety measures on public transit, warning that community confidence in the system is at risk.
Zarutska, who was working at Zepeddie’s Pizza, was still in her work uniform at the time of her death. The restaurant paid tribute, saying, “We lost not only an incredible employee, but a true friend… her light will be missed every single day.”
Brown remains in custody facing murder charges.
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