Young Ukrainian refugee stabbed to death by homeless man on train

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, USA – AUGUST 22, 2025 Iryna Zarutska was a 23-year-old immigrant in the United States, who fled Ukraine with her family in 2022 to escape the war. Instead of finding safety, she met death in the U.S. when she was senselessly attacked by a homeless man on a train.

Iryna was traveling on the Lynx Blue Line train in Charlotte, returning home from her job at a pizzeria. Footage shows she was wearing her work uniform. Just four minutes after boarding, she was attacked with a knife by 34-year-old homeless man Decarlos Brown Jr., who had a long criminal history. He stabbed her multiple times in the neck with a long knife. The attack was unexpected, carried out from behind, completely unprovoked, and tragically fatal.

Decarlos Brown Jr. had been arrested 14 times in the past and was diagnosed with schizophrenia. He had been convicted once for armed robbery and had previous legal issues related to erratic behavior, which he claimed was caused by some artificially created material in his body. He was released from prison in January 2025 and was ordered by the court to undergo psychological evaluation, which he never attended.

Iryna was a beautiful and talented young woman who came to the U.S. hoping for a fresh start. She graduated from Synergy College in Kyiv with a degree in art and restoration. She used her creative skills to paint and sculpt, gifting her works to family and friends. She had a knack for learning new things, quickly learned English in the U.S., and made new friends who remember her as a kind-hearted animal lover.

Her death left her parents, sister, boyfriend, and many others grieving. A GoFundMe campaign was created to support her family and help with unexpected expenses. You can support them HERE.

MORE PHOTOS OF IRYNA:

READ MORE:
https://www.the-sun.com/news/15130265/ukrainian-refugee-stabbed-train/
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/iryna-zarutska-video-moment-ukraine-refugee-who-fled-war-was-stabbed-to-death-on-us-train-9230757
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Iryna_Zarutska

//ADD INTO POST – SEPTEMBER 10, 2025: Thanks to “Zetro hound” for adding a video.
//ADD INTO POST – SEPTEMBER 11, 2025: Thanks to unregistered user for adding a video.