DOJ announces federal charge against North Carolina's DeCarlos Brown in death of Ukrainian refugee

Attorney General Pam Bondi on Tuesday announced federal charges against DeCarlos Brown, who has been accused of murdering a Ukrainian refugee last month while on a metro in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Brown allegedly stabbed 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska multiple times in the neck on Aug. 22. She was later pronounced dead on the scene. The incident has sparked outrage from Americans about crime in major cities and questions about whether elected officials are doing enough to prevent it.

The Justice Department charged Brown with one count of committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system. 

“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,” Bondi said. “I have directed my attorneys to federally prosecute DeCarlos Brown Jr., a repeat violent offender with a history of violent crime, for murder. 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.”

Brown had been arrested at least 13 times before the fatal stabbing and has been diagnosed with schizophrenia.

“The brutal attack on Iryna Zarutska on the Charlotte Light Rail was a disgraceful act that should never happen in America,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement. “The FBI jumped to assist in this investigation immediately to ensure justice is served and the perpetrator is never released from jail to kill again. 

"I want to thank Attorney General Bondi for her pursuit of today’s federal charges, which are the first step toward delivering justice for Iryna and her family – as well as the millions of Americans who deserve to live in our great American cities free from being targeted by violent criminals."

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.