The boyfriend of a Ukrainian refugee who was fatally stabbed on a Charlotte light rail train has publicly shared grief and outrage as questions swirl over why the accused suspect had been released from custody months earlier.
Iryna Zarutska, 23, was allegedly stabbed from behind on the Blue Line on Aug. 22, according to statements from her family and reporting by the Daily Mail. DeCarlos Brown Jr., 34, has been identified as the accused attacker. Zarutska’s partner, Stas Nikulytsia, has posted photographs and videos on Instagram expressing heartbreak and reposting content that criticized Brown’s prior release and the reactions of other passengers on the train, according to posts seen by the Daily Mail.
Zarutska and her family had fled Ukraine in August 2022, seeking safety in the United States, the family said. They settled initially with relatives in the Charlotte suburb of Huntersville. Zarutska later moved with Nikulytsia to an apartment in the NoDa arts district and was working full time at a local pizzeria, the family statement said. The couple’s apartment complex includes a private entrance near the Blue Line light rail platform, which the family said would have put Zarutska minutes from home when the attack occurred.
Family members said Zarutska texted her boyfriend the night of Aug. 22 to say she was on her way home. When she did not arrive, her relatives checked her phone location and found she remained at the station. "Upon arriving at the station, they were devastated to learn that Iryna had died at the scene," their attorney said in a statement released to the press.
The family has called for a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding Zarutska’s death, including security protocols and any failures within the public transportation system. Their lawyer said the immediate priority is to ensure the person responsible "is brought to justice and remains behind bars."
Brown, who is homeless and has a history of prior arrests, was reportedly released seven months before the attack by Mecklenburg County magistrate Teresa Stokes on a written promise to appear in court. That release has drawn intense criticism on social media and in posts shared by Nikulytsia, who also reshared clips showing the moments after the attack and footage of passengers on the train.
A recording of a phone call attributed to Brown in media reports captured him telling a sister that the government had planted materials in his brain and had controlled his actions when he allegedly pulled the knife. Authorities have not confirmed the contents of that call in court filings available publicly. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officials have said the investigation is ongoing.
Friends and neighbors described Zarutska as artistic and free-spirited, and her uncle posted photos of the couple smiling on a lakeside getaway. Residents in the NoDa district have discussed organizing a lasting memorial in the community, according to reporting.
Public transit safety and magistrates’ release decisions have become focal points in the aftermath of the killing. Advocates for victims’ families and some local residents have called for reviews of how repeat offenders are managed and for improved measures on trains and at stations to prevent similar incidents.
Nikulytsia has not responded to requests for a formal interview, and authorities have not released information detailing the status of any charges against Brown beyond his identification as the accused. The family has urged authorities to ensure transparency in any subsequent proceedings and to take steps aimed at preventing future violence on public transportation.