Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, was fatally stabbed on the Lynx Blue Line light rail in Charlotte, North Carolina, on August 22, 2025.3 Born on May 22, 2002, in Kyiv, Ukraine, she emigrated to the United States in August 2022 with her mother, sister, and brother to escape the Russian invasion, settling in Huntersville, North Carolina, where she began building a new life.3 She had graduated from Synergy College in Kyiv with a degree in Art and Restoration and was actively pursuing independence by learning to drive and working at a pizzeria in Charlotte's Lower South End.3 She was also studying college courses and had recently moved to the NoDa neighborhood with her boyfriend.3

The attack occurred when she boarded the train at the Scaleybark station and sat in front of the suspect, 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., who had been arrested 14 times previously and had a history of armed robbery and incarceration.3 Surveillance footage showed Brown, who suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and had been diagnosed after his release from prison, making unusual movements and laughing to himself before pulling a pocketknife from his hoodie and stabbing Zarutska three times from behind, including a fatal wound to the neck.3 She remained conscious for nearly a minute before collapsing and was pronounced dead at the scene.3 Brown was arrested on the platform at East/West Boulevard station and charged with first-degree murder in North Carolina state court and with federal charges related to violence on a mass transportation system.3

Her death drew national and international attention, prompting widespread outrage over transit safety, mental health care access, and criminal justice system gaps.3 In response, North Carolina passed House Bill 307, dubbed "Iryna's Law," which included criminal law reforms and provisions to resume capital punishment in the state.3 The case also led to public discussions about the difficulty of obtaining involuntary psychiatric commitments and the need for improved mental health infrastructure.3 Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles and Governor Josh Stein issued statements condemning the killing and calling for respect for the victim’s family.3

In a tribute to her legacy, a new butterfly species, Iryna's Azure, was named in her honor by a scientist who stated the gesture would ensure she is "never forgotten".5 Additionally, the case prompted a 60-day psychological evaluation for Brown, with a Rule 24 court hearing on the death penalty delayed to April 2026.3 The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities encouraging the public to provide any relevant information.3