Tragic Murder of Ukrainian Refugee

A 34-year-old homeless man, DeCarlos Brown Jr., has been charged with the murder of Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, who was allegedly stabbed at a light rail station in Charlotte. She had recently fled her war-torn home for safety in the United States.

Brown has a troubling criminal background, having spent much of his adult life in and out of prison. His record goes back to 2011 and includes serious offenses like felony theft and armed robbery. He served five years for an armed robbery but was arrested again shortly after his release in September 2020 for assaulting his sister.

The assault in February 2021 resulted in minor injuries for his sister, as reported by police. Notably, Brown had been involved in various incidents, including a recent 911 abuse case where he was upset by police responses to his welfare checks.

On the night of the fatal attack, Brown allegedly ambushed Zarutska with a knife just before 10 PM at the East/West Boulevard Light Rail Station. She sustained multiple stab wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. According to a GoFundMe page established for her family, Iryna had come to the U.S. hoping for safety and a fresh start.