MUGSHOT: Career criminal arrested for brutal murder of Ukrainian woman, 23, who fled war for new life in America

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From the Daily Mail: A young Ukrainian woman who fled to the United States seeking a better life has been identified as the victim of a merciless stabbing on Friday night.

Iryna Zarutska, 23, was found dead at 9.55pm on Friday at South End light rail station in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The woman had only recently moved to the US from Ukraine in an effort to escape the ongoing war with Russia.

A 34-year-old suspect, Decarlos Brown, was arrested shortly after police arrived on the scene.

Violent crime remains a major issue in Charlotte which has a higher-than-average crime rate compared to other US cities. The city is run by Democratic mayor Vi Lyles, who has been in office since 2017.

Brown, a homeless career criminal, reportedly stabbed Zarutska multiple times while she was on the train. She was pronounced dead by police at the train station.

According to a report by the Charlotte Observer, Brown has a lengthy criminal record that goes back years. The report explains:

Brown has been arrested multiple times since 2011, according to court records. Charges have included felony larceny, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and communicating threats. Almost all charges were dropped.

Brown now faces charges of first degree murder.

Local reporter Joe Bruno announced in one X post:

Decarlos Brown was arrested for armed robbery in 2014 and served more than 5 years in prison after being convicted.

According to court documents from this arrest, Brown pointed a gun at a man at 8218 Lodge South Circle. He took $450, 100 Honduran Lempiras and a cell phone. He fled in a vehicle with a paper tag. CMPD officers found the vehicle in front of a nearby apartment. Police knocked on the door and Brown let them in. Once inside, they saw a shirt that matched what the suspect was wearing and the Lempiras sitting in plain site. He was then arrested.

Sharing Brown’s mugshot, Bruno added later Tuesday afternoon:

NEW: I learned CMPD had prior encounters with Decarlos Brown for both criminal activity and instances where he was experiencing a mental health crisis.

CMPD’s Community Policing Crisis Response Team interacted with Brown three times in 2024. Each time he was referred to resources.

I’ve asked CMPD what these resources are, if he accepted any of them, if police have any recourse if they keep encountering someone who refuses help and why Brown wasn’t arrested if he was accused of criminal activity. I have not heard back yet.

Brown is accused of stabbing 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska in a random and sudden attack on Charlotte’s light rail. He has yet to face a judge.

A GoFundMe account set up in support of Zarutska’s family has raised over $22,000 as of this report.

A message on the GoFundMe page reads: “Our Valeria has suffered a terrible tragedy. Yesterday, her niece Ira, who was 22 years old was killed. Ira had recently arrived in the United States, seeking safety from the war and hoping for a new beginning. Tragically, her life was cut short far too soon.

“This is an irreparable loss for her family. We have created this fundraiser to support Valeria and her loved ones during this heartbreaking time and to help them with the unexpected expenses. Any support you can give — whether through a donation or simply by sharing this page — will mean so much to the family. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness and compassion.”

READ MORE from the Daily Mail.

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