The family of Iryna Zarutska has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Charlotte, North Carolina, and its private transit security contractor, Professional Police Services Inc. (PSS), alleging systemic failures contributed to her fatal stabbing on a city light-rail train one year ago.
The lawsuit, filed against the City of Charlotte and PSS, asserts that inadequate security measures and staffing left the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) dangerously vulnerable. The allegations have not been adjudicated in court.
"This case arises from the preventable death of Iryna Zarutska," the complaint states. Lauren Newton, an attorney for Zarutska’s family, told WBTV that the lawsuit highlights "systemic failures that have been within the CATS system for years that the city has been aware of."
According to the lawsuit, no security guard was aboard the Lynx Blue Line train when Zarutska was fatally stabbed on Aug. 22, 2025. The complaint accuses PSS of failing to adequately staff and deploy armed and unarmed personnel, despite a contract providing for 219 security personnel for fiscal years 2025 and 2026. At the time of Zarutska’s killing, PSS had reportedly hired only 183 personnel, with only 11 armed guards when the contract allowed for up to 39.
"They weren’t fully staffed," Newton stated. "If there had been a security guard on that train, Iryna Zarutska would be here." The assertion that a guard would have prevented the death has not been established in court.
The lawsuit also targets fare enforcement on the transit system. It alleges that Zarutska’s accused killer, Decarlos Brown Jr., rode CATS transportation without paying prior to the attack and that there were no physical barriers preventing non-ticketed individuals from accessing the light rail. "There’s been literally no fare enforcement and those things, at a basic level, are what’s necessary for safety. And there’s been none of that," Newton told WBTV.
Attorneys for the family claim that Charlotte and PSS were aware or should have been aware that the Blue Line and its stops had been the site of criminal activity before Zarutska’s death. "Violent crime was absolutely foreseeable," Newton said.
The estate is seeking damages exceeding $25,000, along with punitive damages against PSS, but not against the City of Charlotte. Newton stated, "The family doesn’t want this to happen to anyone else’s loved one."
Fox News Digital reached out to PSS and Newton for comment but did not receive immediate responses. The City of Charlotte informed Fox News Digital that it does not comment on active litigation.