A 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee was fatally stabbed in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Aug. 22, The Charlotte Observer reported.
The incident occurred at 9:55 p.m. while the victim, Iryna Zarutska, was on a train at the South End light rail station.
Zarutska had fled Kyiv in 2022 seeking safety from Russia’s full-scale invasion, and was described by family members as hoping for a new beginning.
“This is an irreparable loss for her family,” a GoFundMe campaign started by Zarutska’s aunt states.
Police arrested 34-year-old Decarlos Brown at the scene and charged him with first-degree murder.
Brown’s criminal record showed a long history of arrests dating back to 2011, with 14 prior court cases and a six-year North Carolina prison sentence for convictions including robbery with a dangerous weapon.
Court records show Brown displayed signs of mental illness earlier this year, and his public defender has filed a motion questioning his competency to stand trial.
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