Federal and state agencies seek to investigate deadly Charlotte light rail stabbing

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WJZY) – Following a deadly stabbing on the Charlotte light rail that left a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee dead, both state and federal agencies are looking to bring justice to the victim and change criminal-related policies.

On the night of Aug. 22, Iryna Zarutska was randomly attacked on a Blue Line train by a homeless man, Decarlos Brown. 

Surveillance video of the deadly stabbing shows Brown on the light rail when Zarutska sat down in front of him. Brown and Zarutska had no interaction, yet after about four and a half minutes, Brown got up suddenly and stabbed Zarutska three times, killing her.

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The tragic act has gained national attention and has even reached the White House.

Trump addressed the incident on Monday, calling Zarutska’s alleged attacker Declaros Brown a “lunatic” and “madman.”

“It’s so horrible,” Trump said. “Just viciously stabbed, she’s just sitting there. So there are evil people; we have to be able to handle that. If we don’t handle that, we don’t have a country.”

Investigating the fatal stabbing

Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for North Carolina’s Western District, said on Monday that his office is “looking at every way the federal government can bring justice to Iryna Zarutska,” and restoring the public’s confidence in public transit.

Since the incident, Charlotte leaders and transit officials have worked to address the public’s concerns over the safety and security of public transit.

Last week, officials with the Charlotte Area Transit System told the Metropolitan Transit Commission that since December, they have implemented a transit policing model with 186 armed and unarmed security officers on staff.

Much of the meetings focused on fare enforcement as CATS believes that Brown did not pay before boarding the light rail the night of the murder.

Outside of Charlotte, state and federal officials are looking at ways to bring justice to Zarutska.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says the department will investigate the city “over its failure to protect Iryna Zarutska.”

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“I stand firm with President Trump’s message of zero tolerance for criminality, especially on our federal DOT-funded public transportation,” Duffy said. “If mayors can’t keep their trains and buses safe, they don’t deserve the taxpayers’ money.”

In addition, Congressman Tim Moore (R-14) announced that he’s introducing legislation to prevent any state or local government from receiving federal funds if they have a policy that prohibits cash bail for all offenders, known as the Keep Violent Criminals Off Our Streets Act.

“Iryna Zaruska should still be alive — her blood is on the hands of every single person who made it possible for this monster to walk free,” said Moore. “That’s why I’m co-leading the Keep Violent Criminals Off Our Streets Act to cut off federal funds to any state or city that refuses to detain violent offenders. If leaders willingly refuse to do their job to lock up dangerous criminals, they shouldn’t get a dime of federal support.”