Overview:
On August 22, 2025, 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee living in Charlotte, was fatally stabbed in an unprovoked attack while riding the Lynx Blue Line light rail. The suspect, Decarlos Brown Jr., faces both state and federal charges, with prosecutors pursuing the case as a potential capital crime. The incident has sparked calls for increased transit safety and community accountability.
Internet personality Andrew Tate has pledged $1 million to support artists who will create memorial works in Zarutska’s honor. The goal is to ensure that her life and story are never forgotten through lasting public tributes.
Iryna Zarutska
Iryna Zarutska’s tragic death aboard the Charlotte light rail has left a lasting wound on both her family and the broader community. The 23-year-old fled Ukraine in 2022 seeking safety. She was working, studying English, and planning for a hopeful future when she was fatally attacked in an unprovoked stabbing last month.
The suspect, 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., was quickly arrested and now faces both state charges of first-degree murder and federal charges for committing violence on a mass transportation system. These federal charges raise the possibility of the death penalty. The case has intensified public scrutiny over Charlotte’s transit safety and mental health interventions. It also raises concerns about the justice system’s handling of violent crimes.
Artistic Projects
Andrew Tate has pledged $1 million to fund artistic projects memorializing Zarutska. According to his announcement, the money will be dedicated to painters, muralists, sculptors, performance artists, and others who submit proposals to honor her life. Tate stated that the initiative’s goal is to ensure Zarutska’s memory is preserved in creative, lasting ways. These ways should speak to both her personal story and broader issues of community safety.
Community members, local leaders, and advocacy groups continue to press for increased safety measures on Charlotte’s transit system. They call for stronger security presence and better oversight. The memorial fund now adds another dimension to the city’s collective response. This aims to transform tragedy into remembrance and resilience through art.
Sources
- ABC News – Charlotte increases security after Ukrainian woman killed on train
- Good Morning America – Ukrainian refugee fatally stabbed on Charlotte train
- ABC7 – Federal charges filed in Charlotte train stabbing
- ABC News – Uncle of Iryna Zarutska speaks out
