The Justice Department has filed federal charges against the man accused of fatally stabbing 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light rail train, opening the door to a possible death penalty sentence.
The charges, announced Tuesday, come on top of state murder charges already filed against 34-year-old Decarlos Dejuan Brown Jr., a homeless repeat offender with a lengthy criminal history.
Federal Complaint Filed
A federal criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Charlotte charges Brown with one count of committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system.
The offense carries a maximum penalty of life in prison or the death penalty.
According to the affidavit, surveillance video shows Brown sitting behind Zarutska before pulling a pocketknife and stabbing her three times from behind.
“Iryna Zarutska was a young woman living the American dream — her horrific murder is a direct result of failed soft-on-crime policies that put criminals before innocent people,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said.
“We will seek the maximum penalty for this unforgivable act of violence, and he will never again see the light of day as a free man.”
FBI Director Kash Patel called the attack a “disgraceful act that should never happen in America.”
He said the bureau “jumped to assist” CMPD immediately to ensure justice is served.
Patel added: “The perpetrator is never going to be released to kill again.”
U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson in Charlotte emphasized the broader impact of the crime.
“This brutal attack on an innocent woman is an attack on the American way of life,” Ferguson said.
“Federal charges are necessary to protect the public and ensure confidence in our transportation systems.”
President Donald Trump condemned the release policies that allowed Brown to remain free.
“The perpetrator was a well-known career criminal … arrested and released on CASHLESS BAIL 14 TIMES,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
“Criminals like this need to be LOCKED UP.”
Victim Fled Ukraine
Zarutska had fled war in Ukraine in 2022 with her family, hoping to build a new life in Charlotte.
Her family described her as “heartbrokenly taken far too soon” in a GoFundMe campaign launched after the attack.
She was pronounced dead at the East/West Boulevard light rail station minutes after the stabbing.
Repeat Offender
Brown had been arrested at least 14 times over the past decade in Mecklenburg County.
His record includes a five-year prison sentence for robbery with a deadly weapon, as well as arrests for assault and misuse of 911.
In January, a magistrate judge released him on a “written promise” despite a request for a mental health evaluation
Next Steps
Brown is being held in custody pending federal proceedings.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Odulio is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Brown’s sentence will be determined by the court in accordance with federal sentencing guidelines.
