In a shocking turn of events, a suspect has been federally charged with a fatal act of violence against a woman on a mass transit system.
WASHINGTON—Former President Donald Trump has made headlines by calling for the death penalty regarding the tragic murder of Iryna Zarutska, a woman who sought refuge from Ukraine and found herself fatally stabbed while traveling on a light-rail train in North Carolina.
“The MONSTER who so brutally killed this young lady, who came to the United States in search of peace and safety, should be given a ‘Quick’ (there is no doubt!) trial, followed by THE DEATH PENALTY,” he stated on September 10 via Truth Social. “There can be no other option!!!”
Iryna Zarutska, in a quest for a better life, became a victim of violence on August 22 while on a commuter train in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Video footage released last week captures the horrifying moment when Zarutska, appearing absorbed in her phone while donning a baseball cap, was unexpectedly attacked from behind. The suspect, Decarlos Brown Jr., allegedly used a knife to stab her, seemingly without any prior interaction.
Brown, aged 34, has a troubling history marked by previous incarceration, a brief hospitalization for schizophrenia, and a recent arrest in early 2025 for repeatedly dialing 911. Following the attack, he was apprehended and charged with first-degree murder—and is now facing additional federal charges that could result in the death penalty due to the nature of the attack occurring on public transit.
Trump’s statements on the matter are not unprecedented. On September 8, he remarked, “When you have horrible killings, you must take horrifying actions.”
In a related statement, Attorney General Pam Bondi described Zarutska as a young woman embodying “the American dream,” asserting that her tragic murder resulted from ineffective soft-on-crime policies that prioritize offenders over victims. She declared that her office would pursue the maximum penalty against Brown, emphasizing that he must never see freedom again.
The FBI has taken an active role in overseeing the investigation surrounding Zarutska’s murder. FBI Director Kash Patel described the event as an “inhumane act” and stressed the FBI’s commitment to ensuring justice, indicating a collective societal expectation that such violence must not be tolerated.
Currently, it remains unclear whether Brown has secured legal representation.
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