Man accused of killing Iryna Zarutska ruled incompentent in federal trial, will undergo treatment

The man accused of stabbing to death Ukrainian immigrant Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte, North Carolina, light rail train is not competent to stand trial, a federal judge ruled on Tuesday. 

The suspect, Decarlos Brown, was ordered to enter a 4-month treatment program to restore his mental capacity to stand trial. 

Brown had several outbursts during the hearing, according to Spectrum 1 News. At one point, Brown told the judge he had a letter from his mother to the judge, and the judge had to warn Brown to keep quiet. 

Brown was indicted on first-degree murder charges in Mecklenburg County Superior Court in September 2025. A federal grand jury also indicted him the next month on charges of violence on a mass transportation system resulting in death. The federal charges carry special findings that make him eligible for the death penalty, WCNC reported. 

In April, Brown was found incompetent to stand trial in a Mecklenburg County court on the state-level charges, and Tuesday's ruling applies to the federal charges. 

Through their attorney, Zarutska's family said, “This was not unexpected. We have confidence that his capacity will be restored so he can stand trial for what he did to Iryna.”

Prosecutors said Tuesday that they are confident that Brown's mental capacity will be restored in a few months, with forced medication. 

Zarutska was stabbed to death while riding a light rail train in August 2025 in what police say was a random attack.