Ukrainian Refugee Fatally Stabbed on Charlotte Light Rail Identified as 23-Year-Old Iryna Zarutska

A 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, Iryna Zarutska, was fatally stabbed on Friday, August 22, while riding a Charlotte light rail train at the East/West Boulevard station. Authorities say the attack was unprovoked and carried out by 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., a repeat offender with a history of violent crimes.

Zarutska, who had fled Ukraine with her family in 2022 to escape the war, was listening to music when she was assaulted. Despite efforts by a bystander to save her, she died at the scene. Surveillance footage showed the swiftness of the attack, fueling outrage over public transit safety and the justice system’s failure to address repeat offenders. Brown was later arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

Born in Kyiv, Ukraine, on May 22, 2002, Zarutska had embraced her new life in Charlotte alongside her mother, sister, and brother. A gifted artist, she graduated from Synergy College in Kyiv with a degree in Art and Restoration and was known for her creativity, compassion,

Charlotte light rail East/West Boulevard station, where Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska was killed in an unprovoked stabbing.

and love for animals. Friends and neighbors remembered her as someone who shared her artwork generously and often cared for pets in the community.

Her family said she dreamed of becoming a Veterinary Assistant while working toward her independence in the United States. She is survived by her parents, Anna and Stanislav; her sister, Valeriia; her brother, Bohdan; her life partner, Stas Nikulytsia; and extended family and friends both in the U.S. and abroad.

Zarutska will be remembered for her kindness, radiant spirit, and the lasting impression she left on those who knew her. Her family has announced that a memorial contribution program will be established in her honor. James Funeral Home in Huntersville is assisting the family.