Who is Decarlos Brown Jr., the Man Arrested in the Death of Iryna Zarutska?

Table Of Contents

Decarlos Brown Jr. Profile and Criminal History
Iryna Zarutska
Chronology of the Murder on the Light Rail
Motives and Unanswered Questions
Sources

Liputan6.com, Jakarta A sad event happened in Charlotte, North Carolina. On August 22, 2025, 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska was found stabbed to death at the East/West Boulevard light rail station. Police quickly arrested Decarlos Brown Jr., a 34-year-old homeless man, and charged him with first-degree murder.

Iryna had escaped the war in Ukraine in 2022, hoping to find safety and a fresh start in the United States. She moved to Charlotte to rebuild her life, studied at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, and also worked as an artist.

The arrest of Brown Jr. brought attention to his long criminal record, raising concerns about the justice system and public safety. The reason behind the murder is still unknown, but police said the attack was random and unprovoked, leaving the community shocked and heartbroken.

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Decarlos Brown Jr. Profile and Criminal History

Decarlos Brown Jr. is a 34-year-old homeless man and the main suspect in the murder of Iryna Zarutska. He has a long criminal history, going back to at least 2007 or 2011, with many serious crimes.

His record includes aggravated burglary, robbery with a dangerous weapon, making threats, burglary, and even assaulting his own sister. He spent about five to six years in prison for armed robbery and was released in September 2020. In January 2025, he was charged again for abusing the 911 system, where he made strange claims about a "man-made substance" controlling his body.

There have also been concerns about his mental health and whether he is fit to stand trial. A mental health evaluation was ordered during the 911 abuse case, but it was not finished before this murder happened. This has raised questions about how his past cases were handled.

Should Decarlos Brown Jr. receive the death penalty? pic.twitter.com/9nhgcfVdTS
— Dr. Maalouf ‏ (@realMaalouf) September 6, 2025

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Iryna Zarutska

Iryna Zarutska was the victim of this tragic crime. She was a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee who was stabbed to death. In 2022, she came to the United States to escape the war in her country, hoping to find peace and safety, according to Hindustan Times.

In Charlotte, Iryna worked hard to start a new life. From 2023 to 2025, she studied at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. She is showing her determination to learn and adjust to her new home. She was also an artist, which added another beautiful part to her life story that sadly ended too soon.

Her death is a painful reminder of how vulnerable refugees can be, even when they think they have found safety.

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Chronology of the Murder on the Light Rail

[Fimela] KRL — Illustration | unsplash.com/@fabrizioverrecchia... Selengkapnya

The murder of Iryna Zarutska happened on August 22, 2025, at the East/West Boulevard light rail station on the Lynx Blue Line in Charlotte, North Carolina. The entire incident was recorded by CCTV, showing the terrifying moments of the attack.

The video shows Iryna getting on the train and sitting in front of Decarlos Brown Jr. For about four and a half minutes, nothing unusual happened. Then, without warning, Brown pulled out a knife. With no words or provocation, he stood up and stabbed Iryna several times, including at least once in the throat.

Iryna was pronounced dead at the scene. The cruel and random nature of the attack shocked the community and raised serious concerns about safety on public transportation.

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Motives and Unanswered Questions

So far, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) has not shared a motive for the murder of Iryna Zarutska. Police confirmed that she and Decarlos Brown Jr. did not know each other, showing that the attack was random and unprovoked.

There are also concerns about Brown’s mental health. In the past, during a case about abusing the 911 system, he claimed that a “man-made substance” was controlling his body. His lawyer asked for a mental health check, but it was never finished before the murder happened.

The CMPD Homicide Unit is still investigating, trying to find out more and bring justice for Iryna.

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