CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal criminal complaint was filed in U.S. District Court in Charlotte charging Decarlos Dejuan Brown Jr., 34, in connection with the fatal stabbing of Iryna Zarutska on the city’s Lynx Blue Line light rail system.
Brown is charged with one count of committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system. According to the affidavit, on August 22, 2025, at about 9:55 p.m., Charlotte Mecklenburg Police officers responded to the light rail after reports of an assault. They found Zarutska inside a rail car with fatal stab wounds.
Surveillance footage showed Zarutska entering the car and sitting in front of Brown. Minutes later, Brown allegedly unfolded a pocketknife and stabbed her three times from behind. He was arrested on the light rail platform shortly afterward.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi said her office will pursue the maximum penalty. FBI Director Kash Patel said the FBI assisted to ensure Brown “is never released from jail to kill again.” U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson added that federal charges are necessary to protect the public and maintain confidence in transportation systems.
If convicted, Brown faces life in prison or the death penalty. The FBI is investigating the case with assistance from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department.
The charges are allegations. Brown is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
