Decarlos Brown, 34, could face either life in prison or the death penalty.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Decarlos Brown, the man accused of stabbing and killing a Ukrainian refugee on a LYNX Blue Line train in August 2025, now faces a federal charge tied to the incident.
On Tuesday, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi shared that federal prosecutors officially charged the 34-year-old Brown with one count of commiting an act causing death on a mass transportation system. Brown is accused of killing 24-year-old Iryna Zarutska on the train.
“Iryna Zarutska was a young woman living the American dream — her horrific murder is a direct result of failed soft-on-crime policies that put criminals before innocent people,” said Bondi in a statement. “I have directed my attorneys to federally prosecute DeCarlos Brown Jr., a repeat violent offender with a history of violent crime, for murder. We will seek the maximum penalty for this unforgivable act of violence — he will never again see the light of day as a free man.”
FBI Director Kash Patel also offered his own comment, confirming that his agency had launched an investigation.
“The brutal attack on Iryna Zarutska on the Charlotte Light Rail was a disgraceful act that should never happen in America,” Patel’s statement said. “The FBI jumped to assist in this investigation immediately to ensure justice is served and the perpetrator is never released from jail to kill again. I want to thank Attorney General Bondi for her pursuit of today’s federal charges, which are the first step toward delivering justice for Iryna and her family – as well as the millions of Americans who deserve to live in our great American cities free from being targeted by violent criminals.”
If convicted, Brown could face one of two maximum penalties: life in prison or death.
“This brutal attack on an innocent woman simply trying to get to her destination is an attack on the American way of life,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “Of course, crimes like this affect the victim the most—Iryna deserves justice, and we will bring justice to her and her family. But crimes like this also affect everyone who relies on mass transportation to get to and from work and go about their daily lives, and federal charges are necessary to protect the public and ensure confidence in our transportation systems.”
Zarutska’s death has sparked responses – from condolences to backlash – from local, state, and national political figures. House Speak Mike Johnson, White House Press Secretary Karolina Leavitt, and President Donald Trump have all commented on the case.
Ferguson spoke during the news briefing. He said that even he felt unsafe in Charlotte’s center city area with his daughter. FBI Special Agent in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr., who spoke during the briefing, said that the Ukrainian Embassy called, letting them know they would pay to bring her body home. However, her family said “No, she loved America.”