Controversial Comments on Murder Case

During a segment on “The Chris Cuomo Project,” host Chris Cuomo questioned whether DeCarlos Brown, the man accused of murdering Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, should be viewed with some sympathy.

Brown has had multiple fundraisers removed from GoFundMe after being accused of fatally stabbing Zarutska in late August. Cuomo criticized the idea of defending Brown, saying it was absurd to raise money for him, yet he hinted that perhaps there could be some sympathy for Brown’s situation.

“It was foolish to defend Brown and to raise funds for him. He failed in a significant way, but is he really deserving of sympathy? I’m not sure. It’s complex,” Cuomo remarked.

One of the removed fundraisers suggested that Brown had been “decisively failed by the North Carolina judicial system and mental health services,” arguing he was “not entirely responsible” for the stabbing.

Brown, described as a former homeless prisoner, was accused of stabbing Zarutska on a light rail train in Charlotte on August 22nd. A local report indicated he shouldn’t have been free, citing his mental health issues and past arrests related to 911 abuse.

After his release from a five-year prison term for armed robbery, Brown’s mother noted changes in his behavior, suggesting he began making strange statements and had been diagnosed with schizophrenia.

According to police in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Brown allegedly used a pocket knife to stab Zarutska three times, with at least one wound to her throat. Footage from the incident shows Brown walking in the train car after the attack, with passengers noticing blood as he removed his red sweatshirt.

Brown has a history of multiple arrests dating back to 2011, covering offenses like theft and making threatening communications. Zarutska was pronounced dead on the scene, and authorities are still trying to determine the motive behind the murder.