Federal Indictment Charges Charlotte Man For Light Rail Fatal Attack Of Iryna Zarutska

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - On October 22, 2025, a federal grand jury returned a criminal indictment, charging Decarlos Dejuan Brown, Jr., 34, with committing an act of violence causing death on a railroad carrier and mass transportation system, for the fatal attack of Iryna Zarutska on Charlotte's light rail system, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Brown was initially charged via a federal criminal complaint on September 9, 2025.

James C. Barnacle, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today's announcement.

According to allegations in filed court documents, on August 22, 2025, Brown stabbed Iryna Zarutska on the Lynx Blue Line light rail. Surveillance footage showed the victim entering the light rail car and sitting down in the row in front of Brown. Approximately four minutes later, Brown pulled a knife from his pocket and unfolded it before striking the victim three times from behind, killing her. Following the attack, it is alleged that Brown walked away from the victim. Responding officers located Brown on the light rail platform.

Brown is charged with one count of violence against a railroad carrier and mass transportation system resulting in death. If convicted, he faces a maximum statutory sentence of life in prison or death. The indictment includes a Notice of Special Findings which could permit the United States to seek the death penalty. The Justice Department has not yet announced whether it will seek the death penalty.

The State also has pending charges against Brown for first degree murder.

The FBI is investigating the case with the assistance of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Cervantes and Edward R. Ryan of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Charlotte are prosecuting the case.

The charges against Brown are allegations and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.