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Charlotte man charged with Iryna Zarutska’s killing could face death penalty

A Charlotte man accused of fatally stabbing Ukrainian national Iryna Zarutska on a city light rail train now faces federal charges that carry the possibility of the death penalty, according to newly released reports and court documents.

The suspect, 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., was indicted this week by a federal grand jury in connection with the brutal killing that occurred on August 22. Prosecutors allege that Brown attacked Zarutska, a 23-year-old woman from Ukraine, in what authorities have described as an entirely unprovoked and random assault aboard the Lynx Blue Line light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina.

According to ABC News, the grand jury formally charged Brown with violence against a railroad carrier and mass transportation system resulting in death — a capital offense under federal law. If convicted, he could face either the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Court filings and statements from prosecutors paint a harrowing picture of the attack. Surveillance footage from inside the train reportedly shows Zarutska boarding and taking a seat directly in front of Brown. Roughly four minutes after she sat down, Brown allegedly reached into his pocket, pulled out a knife, and stabbed her three times from behind before calmly walking away. Investigators noted there appeared to be no prior interaction or confrontation between the two individuals before the sudden assault.

Panicked passengers immediately called for help as the train came to a stop. Emergency responders pronounced Zarutska dead at the scene, having suffered fatal stab wounds. Officers responding to the incident quickly located and arrested Brown just minutes later on the light rail platform. A pocketknife believed to be the murder weapon was discovered nearby and taken into evidence.

Authorities have not disclosed a possible motive, but court documents suggest the act was random and unprovoked. Federal prosecutors have since taken over the case due to the involvement of an interstate transportation system — the Lynx Blue Line — which falls under federal jurisdiction.

Public records from the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction reveal that Brown has a lengthy criminal history, including prior convictions for larceny, breaking and entering, and armed robbery. He previously served a five-year prison sentence beginning in 2015 and was released after completing his term.

Zarutska’s death has drawn widespread attention both locally and internationally, particularly within Charlotte’s Ukrainian community. Friends and community members described her as a kind and vibrant young woman who had come to the United States seeking new opportunities.

As the federal case proceeds, prosecutors have not yet announced whether they will formally seek the death penalty, but legal experts say the severity of the crime and its federal classification make that outcome a real possibility. A trial date has not yet been set, and Brown remains in custody pending further court proceedings.

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