The family of Iryna Zarutska has filed a lawsuit against the City of Charlotte and its private transit security contractor, Professional Security Services (PSS), alleging "systemic failures" that contributed to her fatal stabbing aboard a CATS light rail train a year ago. Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, was killed on August 22, 2025, in an attack that shocked the nation.
The lawsuit, brought by attorney Lauren Newton, claims the city and PSS were aware of dangers within the CATS system prior to Zarutska's death. "What it shows is the systemic failures that have been within the CATS system for years that the city has been aware of," Newton told WBTV. The filing specifically cites the lack of physical barriers to prevent non-ticketed individuals from boarding and the absence of fare enforcement as contributing factors.
PSS was also allegedly understaffed on the night of the attack. According to the suit, the city budgeted for 219 security personnel for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 but only had 183 staff members when Zarutska was killed. Furthermore, the lawsuit claims that while the budget allocated for 39 armed guards, only 11 were on duty at the time.
The suit further alleges that city officials instructed light rail conductors not to confront passengers who did not pay fares. This policy, the filing suggests, was partly due to concerns about violent crime and attacks on CATS workers. The lawsuit references four other homicides and assaults that occurred near Blue Line stops in recent years. "Violent crime was absolutely foreseeable," Newton stated. "Violent crime and attacks on CATS workers were one of the main reasons there was no fare enforcement."
Surveillance footage from the incident reportedly showed the alleged assailant, DeCarlos Brown Jr., watching Zarutska before approaching and stabbing her. Brown, who is accused of not paying the fare before boarding, has repeatedly claimed to be suffering from a "body emergency" and believes technology has gained control of his body. He has been declared unfit to stand trial and ordered committed to a federal medical facility for treatment.
Brown faces federal charges of causing death on a mass transportation system, which is punishable by death, and a separate state charge of first-degree murder. His state case is paused pending federal proceedings.
President Donald Trump mentioned Zarutska's murder during the State of the Union address in February, introducing her mother, Anna Zarutska. Trump decried the crime and vowed justice for Iryna. The family is seeking damages exceeding $25,000 and punitive damages against PSS.