Judge to Decide Trial Suitability for Man in Fatal Stabbing of Ukrainian Refugee

A judge in North Carolina is tasked with determining if DeCarlos Brown, who allegedly stabbed a Ukrainian refugee to death on a light rail train in Charlotte, can stand trial.

Brown, who has a lengthy criminal history, was reportedly captured on video during the incident. The victim, 23-year-old Irina Zalutka, was returning home from her job at a pizza restaurant when she was attacked. According to reports, Brown was deemed unfit for trial after a mental evaluation conducted on December 29th.

Brown’s criminal background includes a five-year sentence for armed robbery. The details surrounding the stabbing gained widespread attention on social media, especially since footage revealed Brown stabbing Zalutka multiple times, with at least one stab to the neck, on August 22, 2025.

The videos also featured Brown stating, “I got that white girl,” which added to the outcry over the brutal attack.

In a related note, prominent figures like Elon Musk have expressed their views online regarding the incident and the media’s coverage. Musk notably funded murals commemorating victims, including one in Providence, Rhode Island, although it was recently moved after criticism from some local officials.

Brown is also facing federal charges associated with this case and may potentially receive the death penalty. A former attorney general remarked that given his past arrests—14 in total—he should have been incarcerated before the murder of Zalutka.

Additionally, Brown is undergoing evaluations to ascertain his fitness to stand trial in federal court for the alleged murder.