Decarlos Dejuan Brown Jr., the man federally charged in connection with the fatal stabbing of Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light rail, appeared in federal court this past Thursday. Brown is facing one count of violence against a railroad carrier and mass transportation system resulting in death, according to QC News. If convicted, Brown could face a life sentence or the death penalty, as reported by WCNC.
The incident took place on August 22, at the East/West Blvd Station on Camden Road, and Brown was taken into custody at the scene, where officers located a folding pocketknife and clothing matching descriptions provided by 911 callers; he also had a laceration on his right hand, while surveillance video captured the stabbing. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers found the victim inside the light rail car, the federal indictment includes special findings that make Brown eligible for the death penalty, it alleges he intentionally killed Zarutska and acted with “reckless disregard for human life” and his criminal history includes a conviction of robbery with a dangerous weapon, added WCNC.
The tragic circumstances surrounding Zarutska’s death have resonated throughout the community, with the 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee having sought safety in the United States as she worked and attended college to improve her English, her death was tragic and preventable, and she was just minutes from home when she was killed; family friends told WCNC. The case has also caught the attention of President Donald Trump, who cited it in discussions about public safety and criminal justice reform, sparking debate among officials and leading to calls for judicial reviews within the state…