Ten Republican members of North Carolina’s congressional delegation have asked the state court system to begin removal proceedings against a magistrate they say wrongly released a man who was later charged in the fatal stabbing of a Ukrainian refugee on a Charlotte light-rail train.
In a letter led by Rep. Tim Moore, R-N.C., the lawmakers said Magistrate Teresa Stokes freed Decarlos Brown earlier this year "based solely on his ‘written promise’ to appear for a future court date," despite what they described as a lengthy criminal history. Brown has been charged in the Aug. 22 killing of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska, who fled Ukraine in 2022 after Russia invaded.
The lawmakers said Stokes’ decision “was made despite Brown’s extensive criminal history, which included at least 14 prior arrests for serious offenses such as possession of a firearm by a felon, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and physical assault of his sister.” The letter accused the magistrate of engaging in conduct "prejudicial to the administration of justice" and said the release undermined public confidence in the judicial system and exposed the community to "wholly preventable harm."
Brown, who local reporting has said was diagnosed with schizophrenia and lived homeless, had been charged in January with a misdemeanor after calling 911 and telling officers that "man-made" materials were inside his body. Officials said he later was arrested after making a second call that month. He was released on his written promise to appear, according to the lawmakers’ letter.
The fatal attack on the Lynx Blue Line in Charlotte was described by local authorities and media as seemingly unprovoked. Zarutska was sitting on the train on her way home from work when she was stabbed. Surveillance footage from the transit system has been shown publicly, and investigators charged Brown in connection with the killing.
The Republican delegation asked the state court to "commence formal removal proceedings against Magistrate Teresa Stokes" and requested a review of her prior bond determinations "to assess the full extent of misconduct." The letter argued that North Carolinians deserve assurance that those with judicial authority exercise it with "diligence, responsibility, and regard for the safety of the community."
The call for action from the delegation frames the Charlotte case within a broader Republican critique of how cities and courts handle repeat offenders and public-safety risks. Party officials and conservative commentators have also cited the case in debates over proposals, supported by some Republicans, to deploy National Guard troops to major cities to address violent crime.
Officials in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County have said investigations into the train attack remain active. Fox News Digital, which first reported the lawmakers’ letter, said it reached out to the North Carolina Judicial Branch for comment but had not received a response by the time of publication.
Removal of a magistrate is a formal process in North Carolina that typically requires the state courts to investigate allegations of misconduct and determine whether disciplinary action or removal is warranted. The letter did not specify a timeline for the requested proceedings.
Prosecutors in the Charlotte case have filed criminal charges against Brown; as of publication, he had not been convicted of the allegations in the Aug. 22 incident. The lawmakers’ request adds a political dimension to the case as authorities continue criminal proceedings and the judicial branch considers any potential personnel or procedural reviews.
The killing has drawn attention locally and nationally because Zarutska was a refugee who arrived in the United States after fleeing the war in Ukraine. Her death prompted public outcry and renewed scrutiny of safety on public transit in Charlotte and other U.S. cities.
The congressional Republicans’ letter, signed by all 10 House GOP members from North Carolina, places pressure on the state judicial system to respond publicly to their request and to clarify the standards and practices used by magistrates when setting release conditions. State judicial authorities will determine whether to open formal proceedings to examine the conduct cited by the lawmakers and whether any disciplinary steps are appropriate.