Iryna Zarutska, 24, was killed in a brutal attack on a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina, on August 22, with her family now speaking out about the tragedy
The family of a Ukrainian refugee knifed to death on a train in a savage assault has spoken out, slamming authorities for “lapses in security protocols”.
Iryna Zarutska had escaped Ukraine, leaving her loved ones behind after Vladimir Putin commanded Russian forces to invade on February 24, 2022. Seeking sanctuary abroad, she began a fresh chapter in Charlotte, North Carolina.
On August 22, Iryna climbed aboard the South End light rail train in Charlotte, travelling across the city as she had done numerous times previously.
However, moments after taking her seat on the packed carriage, a homeless individual with an extensive criminal record unleashed a vicious knife assault on the young woman, plunging a pocketknife into her neck.
Speaking publicly, her family described her death as occurring in “the most horrific way” to lose a life. “We are heartbroken beyond words,” the family said in a statement from an attorney representing the family.
“Iryna came here to find peace and safety, and instead her life was stolen from her in the most horrific way. No family should have to go through this.”
The family are also demanding a thorough investigation into “lapses in security protocols and failures within the public transportation system,” highlighting the absence of visible or effective security presence on the Lynx Blue Line. They also pointed to a breakdown in oversight regarding the contract between the Charlotte Area Transit System and Professional Security Services (PSS) as well as a lack of adequate safety measures they claim could have prevented the deadly assault, reports the Mirror.
“This could have been anyone riding the light rail that night,” the family said. “We are committed to making sure this never happens again.”
Shocking video footage of the brutal attack spread online following the incident. However, Iryna’s family have urged the public and media to “respect Iryna’s dignity and [their] grief by not reposting or circulating it.”
They revealed that Zarutska had been grafting to establish a fresh start in Charlotte, holding down a full-time position at a local pizzeria whilst studying English at a community college. On August 22 she messaged her partner saying she would be home shortly, but when she failed to return, worried relatives tracked her phone’s location to a train station.
Upon reaching the station they were informed she had been declared dead at the scene, the statement revealed. Officers identified the knifeman as vagrant Decarlos Brown Jr, 35, who has an extensive criminal record, including an arrest for attacking his sister.
Brown was captured on footage leaving a trail of blood throughout the carriage as fellow passengers seemed oblivious to the killing that had occurred, before he tears off his top. He was nabbed shortly afterwards and initially faced first-degree murder charges, though he was later charged in federal court with one count of committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system.
A judge subsequently refused his bail application and he remains behind bars. Should he be convicted of the federal offence, Brown could face the death penalty, despite North Carolina not executing anyone for nearly a decade.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is pushing for the harshest sentence, said: “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.
“We will seek the maximum penalty for this unforgivable act of violence – he will never again see the light of day as a free man.”
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