CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A key court hearing in the Charlotte light rail murder case involving the death of 23-year-old Ukrainian woman Iryna Zarutska has been delayed until April 2026, according to Mecklenburg County court documents.
The defendant, Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, was scheduled for a Rule 24 hearing on Thursday, October 16, which would determine whether the state plans to pursue the death penalty. The hearing, however, has now been postponed at the request of Brown and his attorney, Daniel Roberts. The specific reason for the delay was redacted in court filings.
Timeline of the Fatal Light Rail Stabbing
The killing occurred on August 22, 2025, around 9:50 p.m., when Zarutska was reportedly stabbed multiple times, including once in the throat, while riding the Lynx Blue Line light rail in Charlotte.
Officials said surveillance footage showed Zarutska boarding the train at 9:46 p.m. and sitting in front of Brown. Within minutes, Brown allegedly attacked her, and bystanders rushed to help after the assault. Brown exited the train at the next stop and was arrested shortly after, suffering a minor laceration to his hand…