Kash Patel, the director of the FBI, has announced that the agency is probing a stabbing incident on a train in Charlotte, North Carolina, which resulted in the death of a Ukrainian refugee.
Patel stated, “The FBI has been investigating the Charlotte train murders from the very beginning,” mentioning it in a recent post on social media.
The post indicates that 23-year-old Irina Zalzka was stabbed multiple times in the throat by a suspect, DeCarlos Brown Jr., on August 22, 2025, while on the Charlotte Light Rail.
According to reports, Brown has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder related to the attack on Zalzka.
Recent video footage broadcast by WBTV News shows Zalzka boarding the train and sitting near Brown. The footage appears to show Brown removing a pocket knife and stabbing Zalzka three times in the throat. After the attack, Brown is seen walking through the train car, with people noticing blood drops trailing behind him.
One clip features Brown, the suspected assailant, sitting in a train car before Zalzka arrives. He appears to be moving around and seems emotional.
Another part of the video captures Zalzka entering the train and taking a seat in front of Brown, followed by another angle of her presence in the car.
In the complete video, it becomes clear that Zalzka was stabbed three times in the throat, leaving her visibly shocked before collapsing.
Court documents reveal that Brown has “over 12 convictions dating back to 2014.”
The news of the attack has drawn criticism from figures like Senator Ted Cruz and Elon Musk, who have pointed out that major media outlets, including NPR and CNN, were slow to report on it.
Charlotte’s Mayor Lyles expressed the urgent need for a bipartisan approach to address the issue of habitual offenders and to ensure individuals suffering from mental illness receive proper treatment instead of remaining on the streets.
“Recently, our community has been grappling with this situation, and what is evident is that the justice system has failed,” Lyles remarked. “Our police arrest individuals only for them to be released immediately, which undermines public safety.” The mayor emphasized the need for a comprehensive solution that tackles this recurring problem.
Lyles also thanked media partners for their caution in not sharing footage of the assault after the transit system released it.
In response to the incident, former President Donald Trump remarked that the responsibility lies with Democrats, including former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, for not keeping “bad people” imprisoned.
Trump added, “I’ve viewed a horrifying video of a beautiful young Ukrainian refugee who came to America to escape the brutal war in Ukraine. The perpetrator is a known career criminal who had been arrested previously and released multiple times, despite facing serious charges.”
