Charlotte, North Carolina | Sep 07, 2025 : A chilling surveillance video released by the Charlotte Area Transit System has captured the final moments of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, who was brutally stabbed to death on a Charlotte light rail train late last month.

Zarutska, who had fled war-torn Ukraine in hopes of finding safety in the United States, boarded the Lynx Blue Line around 9:46 pm on August 22, still dressed in her pizzeria work uniform. The footage shows her quietly scrolling on her phone when 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr moved into position behind her.

Just four minutes later, Brown suddenly produced a folding knife and stabbed Zarutska three times, including at least once in the neck, police confirmed. The shocking assault sent panic through the train car. The edited video released Friday stops short of showing the actual stabbing but later shows Brown discarding his sweatshirt and pacing near the doors as stunned passengers began to realize what had happened.

According to investigators, Zarutska clutched her neck as blood pooled on the floor before collapsing in her seat. She was pronounced dead on board.

Brown exited at the next stop, where officers later recovered the weapon. He was taken into custody after being treated for a hand wound and has since been charged with first-degree murder.

Court records reveal Brown’s long criminal history stretching back to 2011, including convictions for larceny, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and communicating threats. He previously served five years in prison for armed robbery.

Earlier this year, Brown was also arrested for misusing 911 during a bizarre incident in which he told police a “man-made material” was controlling his body. Authorities have yet to establish a motive for the August 22 attack.

The brutal killing has reignited debates on public safety, mental health, and the challenges faced by refugees seeking safety in America. For Zarutska, the promise of a new beginning ended in tragedy on a city train she boarded after work.