As ABC News reports, the unprovoked knife attack, of which 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr. is accused, has also prompted a response from President Donald Trump, who is calling for the death penalty for the suspect. The indictment in federal court opens up the possibility of the most severe punishment.
The prosecutor described the incident as an act of terrorism and criticized the failure of the public transport security system, as there were no security officers on the train at the time of the attack. The details released show that the attack took place without any prior contact with the victim.
The family fled the war with Iryna
Exactly three years ago, they came to the United States with their mother, sister, and brother to escape the war in their homeland. From the obituary, we learn that Iryna was a talented artist with a keen sense of beauty and creativity.
She graduated from Synergy College in Kiev, where she earned a degree in art and restoration. In addition to her sculptures, she also designed original clothing. Animals also fascinated her. She dreamed of becoming a veterinary assistant.
Although she enjoyed traveling and getting to know new places, according to her relatives, she found the greatest joy in being with her family. Iryna left behind her parents, brother, sister, and partner.
A schizophrenic attacked
What at first glance looks like a normal train journey turned into a nightmare for fellow passengers, according to videos circulating on the internet. The entire incident was recorded on camera, and it remains a sad reminder of this time that the girl did not receive first aid from passengers immediately after the attack.
The murder of young Ukrainian Iryna Zarutskaya on a train in Charlotte once again raised the question of how state institutions deal with people who suffer from severe mental disorders and also have a criminal record. The defendant in this case is 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., a man with a criminal record who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Brown was arrested by police shortly after the attack.
His own brother Jeremiah, a 19-year-old youth, told the media that this tragedy could have been prevented, Fox News reports. He pointed out that Brown should have been under strict treatment and supervision and should not have been allowed to remain free without proper supervision. “He could do it again. He should be treated constantly, but at the same time he has to face the consequences of his actions,” he explained.
Available records show that the accused had already been arrested earlier this year for misusing the 911 emergency number. At that time, however, he was released on the basis of a written pledge. Court records show that he is convinced that his body is controlled by some kind of “artificial material.”
The police officers explained to him that this was a health problem, but instead of receiving specialist treatment, his condition was not treated by anyone.
The tragedy sparked a discussion about crime and safety on public transport in such cities.
This case reveals several alarming facts. First, the link between mental health and public safety continues to be underestimated. People with serious mental health diagnoses who are also known to law enforcement pose a risk if they are not treated in a timely and systematic manner.
Second, it shows that the legal system in the United States often treats offenders leniently—even in cases where there are repeated warning signs.
Officials from the U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI held a press conference after the Justice Department charged a man with the fatal stabbing of a Ukrainian refugee on a commuter train in North Carolina. The report published on Sky News is full of emotion.
The first-degree murder charge by the state prosecutor means that he faces the death penalty. Now he also faces federal charges of manslaughter on public transportation. Decarlos Brown Jr. has a long list of arrests with 14 previous criminal cases.
The most tragic aspect of this incident is the fate of the victim herself. Iryna Zarutská came to the US with her family to escape the war in Ukraine. She was seeking safety and a new beginning, but paradoxically, she died a violent death in the country where she was supposed to find peace.
Her story has become a symbol of the fragility of life and, at the same time, a call for society to take the protection of innocent people more seriously.
The responsibility of the state in this case cannot be overlooked. If the applicable laws had been enforced more consistently and if there had been an effective system for caring for mentally ill offenders, the young refugee's life might not have been lost.