CHARLOTTE, N.C. — New video released in the case of a fatal August attack on a Charlotte light rail train shows passengers filming a wounded Ukrainian woman as she bled to death rather than immediately rendering aid, officials and media reports said.

The 23-year-old victim, identified by authorities as Iryna Zarutska, was stabbed three times — in the neck and hands — on Aug. 22 minutes after boarding a South End light rail train, according to prosecutors. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The suspect, identified as 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., was arrested shortly after the attack and initially charged with first-degree murder; prosecutors later upgraded the case to federal charges tied to an attack on a mass transportation system that they say could carry the death penalty.

Footage reviewed by media outlets shows several passengers pulling out phones to record as Zarutska slumped in a pool of blood while others moved to assist. One man removed his shirt and attempted to stem the bleeding, but by then nearly one minute and 40 seconds had elapsed after the attack, according to the video accounts. The recording also shows blood trailing through the carriage and passengers appearing to follow or glance at Brown as he moved through the train after the stabbing.

U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson said at a news conference that the federal charges are based on violence against a mass transportation system and characterized the episode as an "attack on the American way." Federal prosecutors said the upgrade raises the possibility of seeking the death penalty. Attorney General Pam Bondi said she directed federal attorneys to prosecute the case and that the Justice Department "will seek the maximum penalty for this unforgivable crime."

President Donald Trump commented on the killing, saying Zarutska was "slaughtered by a deranged monster who was roaming free after 14 prior arrests" and criticized local policies on crime. Prosecutors have said Brown has at least 14 prior cases in Mecklenburg County; records cited by media outlets show a history of arrests dating back to when Brown was a minor, including a 2014 armed robbery for which he served five years in prison and a release in September 2020.

Local court records and media reports indicate Brown faced multiple other arrests and charges in recent years, including alleged assaults, disorderly conduct and misuse of 911. Some earlier charges were dropped, according to reporting by the Charlotte Observer and other outlets. Mecklenburg County prosecutors have declined to discuss details while cases are pending.

Zarutska had arrived in the United States in 2022, her family said on a GoFundMe page. Family members told authorities in recent days that they declined to have her body returned to Ukraine, saying she would have wanted to be buried in the United States because "she loved America," officials said.

The newly circulated video, which some outlets declined to publish in full because of its graphic content, has intensified scrutiny of the incident and prompted public debate over bystander behavior, public safety on mass transit and criminal justice policies. Police officials said Brown remained in custody after his arrest and that his bond was denied by a judge.

Prosecutors have said the investigation remains active. Officials have not released a full timeline of the incident beyond the details that Zarutska was stabbed minutes after boarding the train and that the assault was unprovoked. The U.S. Attorney's Office and local law enforcement did not immediately provide additional comment beyond statements issued at a news conference announcing the federal charges.

Zarutska's death prompted a public outcry and calls for changes to prevent similar attacks on public transportation. The case is expected to proceed through federal court, where prosecutors will decide whether to pursue a capital case.

(Reporting includes material from local media accounts and statements by federal and state officials.)