In Charlotte, DeCarlos Brown Jr., a butcher associated with the Light Rail system, is under scrutiny for the murder of Ukrainian refugee Irina Zaltzka. The incident has raised serious concerns about the system allowing those with mental health issues to be released on cashless bail, and a relative of Brown is voicing his thoughts on the matter.
“It seemed pretty clear they had a strong insistence on that,” Jeremiah, who shares a father with Brown, noted concerning the magistrate judge’s decision that led to Brown’s release from prison back in January.
At 34, Brown, who is homeless and diagnosed with schizophrenia, has a history of arrests linked to violence. He now faces charges for allegedly murdering Zaltzka, a 23-year-old who fled Ukraine with her family in 2022, seeking a new beginning in the United States.
Jeremiah expressed his disbelief at Brown’s mental health issues. “I didn’t even realize he had any problems, and I can’t allow him to walk free, especially considering his mental state,” he reflected. “He could do it again. They need to hold him accountable because there are consequences to his actions.”
Jeremiah, 19, mentioned in a recent news interview that he was taken aback to learn about Brown, having only met him “once or twice.” Still, he revealed a family background marked by violence.
“He was close to my dad. They both have troubled records,” he stated.
His father, DeCarlos Sr., and older brother Stacey both have histories involving violent crime. Stacey, for instance, is serving a lengthy prison sentence for a 2014 murder.
Jeremiah was in elementary school when that murder occurred and recalls seeing his brother during that time, paralleling what he feels now with Brown Jr.
He remembers images of his father’s past as well, which adds weight to the family’s complicated legacy.
Meanwhile, the Department of Justice has charged DeCarlos Jr. with first-degree murder. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondy made it clear that they are seeking the most severe sentence for this “unforgivable crime.” She stated that he would “never see the light of day again as a free man.”
Expressing sorrow for Zaltzka and her family, Jeremiah commented, “I really hope my family is influenced by the tragedy on that train.” He concluded, “I wish them all the support they can get.”
