Justice Department Charges Light Rail Attacker with Federal Crime

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal criminal complaint was filed in U.S. District Court in Charlotte today, charging Decarlos Dejuan Brown Jr., 34, with a federal crime in connection with the fatal attack of Iryna Zarutska on the city’s light rail system. Brown is charged with one count of committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system.

“Iryna Zarutska was a young woman living the American dream — her horrific murder is a direct result of failed soft-on-crime policies that put criminals before innocent people,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I have directed my attorneys to federally prosecute DeCarlos Brown Jr., a repeat violent offender with a history of violent crime, for murder. We will seek the maximum penalty for this unforgivable act of violence — he will never again see the light of day as a free man.”

“The brutal attack on Iryna Zarutska on the Charlotte Light Rail was a disgraceful act that should never happen in America,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The FBI jumped to assist in this investigation immediately to ensure justice is served and the perpetrator is never released from jail to kill again. I want to thank Attorney General Bondi for her pursuit of today’s federal charges, which are the first step toward delivering justice for Iryna and her family – as well as the millions of Americans who deserve to live in our great American cities free from being targeted by violent criminals."

According to allegations in the affidavit filed with the criminal complaint:

On August 22, 2025, at approximately 9:55 p.m., officers with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) responded to a call for service related to an assault that occurred on the Lynx Blue Line light rail in Charlotte. Callers indicated that a woman had been stabbed by a male. Responding officers located the victim inside the rail car. The victim, subsequently identified as Iryna Zarutska, had sustained fatal stab wounds. A pocketknife and other items were collected from the scene.

Investigators reviewed surveillance footage that showed the victim entering the light rail car and sitting down in the row in front of Brown. Approximately four minutes later, Brown pulled a knife from his pocket and unfolded it before striking the victim three times from behind. Following the attack, Brown walked away from the victim. Responding officers located Brown on the light rail platform and he was arrested.

“This brutal attack on an innocent woman simply trying to get to her destination is an attack on the American way of life,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “Of course, crimes like this affect the victim the most—Iryna deserves justice, and we will bring justice to her and her family. But crimes like this also affect everyone who relies on mass transportation to get to and from work and go about their daily lives, and federal charges are necessary to protect the public and ensure confidence in our transportation systems.”

If convicted, Brown faces a maximum statutory sentence of life in prison or death. Ultimately, his sentence will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI is investigating the case with the assistance of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Odulio of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.

The charges against Brown are allegations and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 

Updated September 9, 2025

 

Charlotte Murder Exposes Democrat Failures After Career Criminal Freed by Woke Policies

The White House

September 8, 2025

Horrifying video released on Friday shows the moment and innocent woman was brutally murdered on a train in Charlotte, North Carolina — a shocking act of evil that didn’t have to happen.

The deranged monster had been arrested again and again for violent crimes spanning more than a decade. Despite that lengthy rap sheet, mental health issues, and forfeiting bonds on three occasions, a Democrat judge released him back on the streets following his most recent arrest in January — free to slaughter an innocent woman just months later.

That has become the norm in Democrat-run cities, where Radical Left policies like “no cash bail” and “defund the police” put depraved career criminals back on the streets — free to continue raping, pillaging, and killing their way through our nation.

It’s the culmination of North Carolina’s Democrat politicians, prosecutors, and judges prioritizing woke agendas that fail to protect their citizens when they need them the most:

• In 2020, the Charlotte City Council launched an initiative to “reimagine“ policing, which included diverting 911 calls away from the police department.
• In 2020, then-Governor Roy Cooper established the “Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice” — co-chaired by then-Attorney General and current Governor Josh Stein — which recommended “reimagining public safety” to “promote diversion and other alternatives to arrest,” “deemphasize” some felony crimes, prioritize “restorative justice,” and “eliminate cash bail” for many crimes.
• Over the last seven years, Mecklenburg County Criminal Justice Services has received millions of dollars from a foundation that advocates for no-cash bail and decreasing jail populations to address “inequities.”
• Mecklenburg County hired ”equity and inclusion consultants” to address “racial disparities at all levels of the justice system” and its “Office of Equity and Inclusion” lists reducing “racial disparities and disproportionality within the criminal justice system” as among its goals.
• In 2020, Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings said “law enforcement, in general, is based on racism” and their department can “probably slow down” on “discretionary arrests.”
• In 2020, Democrat State Senator Mujtaba Mohammed, who represents Charlotte, declared “independence from rogue police.”

As President Trump said today: “There are evil people. We have to be able to handle that. If we don’t handle that, we don’t have a country.”

Vi Lyles 3rd Attempt

In an undated letter Charlotte's Mayor Vi Lyle attempts for a 3rd time to address the senseless violent murder of 23 year old Iryna Zarutska.

Her words are decidedly different yet still she can't read the room. 

Our city is hurt, our lives forever altered, our faith in our public officials destroyed.  Because her first response was from her stone cold heart and now nothing she will say can remove that stain and our understanding of her true feelings.

Her first callous woke response with all the liberal cashless bail blame the victim defund the police talking points was universally condemned.

The second revision met immediate condemnation by the President, Sectary of Transportation, and the US Attorney General. 

The 3rd revision is no less troubled and obviously more disingenuous than her 1st and 2nd attempts.

I will let you decide.

Every Case Dismissed

 Swake LaJuan Michael McCorey Photo Courtesy of MCSO

Swake McCorey was arrested again on Saturday night, September 7, 2025 and charged with:

FLEE/ELUDE ARREST W/MV (F)

DWLR NOT IMPAIRED REV

RECKLESS DRIVING TO ENDANGER

HIT/RUN LEAVE SCENE PROP DAM

RESISTING PUBLIC OFFICER

FAIL TO HEED LIGHT OR SIREN

SPEEDING 130/55

FAIL TO BURN HEADLAMPS

IMPROPER PASSING ON RIGHT

POSSESS STOLEN MOTOR VEHICLE

PWISD MARIJUANA

FLEE/ELUDE ARREST W/MV (F)

CARRYING CONCEALED GUN (F)

Needless to say this is not his first rodeo 

But every single prior arrest has resulted in zero convictions. 

Every one of his prior criminal cases that has made it into a courtroom was dismissed by the Mecklenburg County DA. 

His bail has often been unsecured, never more than $1,000.00 and only once did he spend more than a few hours in jail.

That changed Saturday night when his bail was denied. He'll have a court hearing at 10:00 am on Monday. If he is granted bail I'd be surprised if it is more a $5,000.00.

Cedar Posts Update:

This morning Liberal Judge Fritz Mercer set this career criminal's bail at only $3,500.00 but did order electronic monitoring and a 6 to 6 curfew. 

Cedar Posts Update:

The clerk of court finally updated the bond set by Judge Mercer.

5000 on the expired tag, weapon and weed

10000 on the stolen car, weapon, flee and elude

5000 on the weed, resisting, flee and elude and reckless driving 

That's $20,0000 of which about $860 should get him out the door. Maybe a little more since he has a habit of failing to appear.

Where is he now? Find out right here.

Wheels of Justice

The wheels of Justice in Mecklenburg County are seldom turning. 

The full quote is often phrased as  "The wheels of justice turn slowly, but grind exceedingly fine". 

This proverb is supposed to mean that while the legal process can be lengthy, it will eventually produce the absolutely correct and thorough outcome. 

For Kendall Crank died on March 28, 2019 after she was caught in the crossfire of a shootout on 28th Street near North Tryon Street in Charlotte nothing could be further from the truth.

The following day, CMPD would charge 3 thugs; Adonis Smith, 17, Marquis Smith 24 and 22 year old Tychicus Dobie with 1st degree murder.

But it would take six years before the first case would go to trial.

March of this year the case against Adonis Smith did just that after six years.

Adonis Smith Photo Courtesy of MCSO

Unfortunately the jury selected to hear the case had the educational equivalent of squirrels and the state's case was a disaster. The judge ruled in favor of the defense on nearly every motion and his lengthy instructions to the jury seemed to reach new levels of direction from the bench. In the end the jury like a squirrel in the road could not make up its mind.

On May 8, 2025 Judge Matthew Osman declared a mistrial, and released Smith on a 10 thousand dollar secured bail while rejecting the state's request to for electronic monitoring.

Smith was released from jail on May 9, 2025 at 9:39 PM six years and two months after he was arrested for the murder of Kendall Crank. He remains free on bail awaiting a decision as to a retrial.

Then last month the other two men accused of killing Kendall Crank in 2019 pleaded guilty to reduced charges.

The remaining two thugs would wait another two months before they made their appearances before a judge back in August.

With the disaster of Smith's trial the Mecklenburg County DA offered defendants, Tychicus Dobie and Marquis Smitha a sweet plea deal. 

Dobie and Smith Photo Courtesy MCSO

Dobie pleaded guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter and Discharging a Weapon into an Occupied Vehicle in Operation. Dobie also pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a weapon by a prisoner, although those charges did not stem from Crank’s murder.

Dobie was released from the Mecklenburg County Detention Center on August 12, 2025 having been given credit for time served.

Marquis Smith pleaded guilty to Accessory After the Fact of Voluntary Manslaughter and Possession of a Firearm by a Felon and was released with credit for time served on August 6, 2025.

The men’s pleas come more than six years after 27-year-old Kendal Crank was murdered.

Crank was on her way to classes at the UNC School of Nursing when a shootout broke out on 28th Street near North Tryon Street, not far outside Uptown. She was killed by a single bullet.

The case against Adonis Smith is still pending it remains to active for the time being and he remains free on bond.

At this point the Mecklenburg DA has only 3 options:

Retry the case, which could take months or years of preparation.

Attempt to negotiate a plea deal with Smith’s attorneys.

Drop the charges.

The biggest obstacle may be that the murder weapon has never been located and that makes tying the gun, the bullet and the shooter to Crank's death conclusively a bridge too far. 

Additionally now that the two co-defendants have been convicted, and sentenced to time served, Spencer Merriweather has little choice but to dismiss the charges against Adonis Smith. 

Charlotte CATS Released Video Iryna Zarutska Murder

Several local TV News Stations elected to not air the video of DeCarlos Brown murdering Iryna Zarutska. WBTV however decided to air the highly edited video which is disturbing and heartbreaking. 

According to sources, Iryan finished her shift at Zepeddie's Pizzeria located on Nations Crossing Road and walked alone the 1/2 mile to the Woodlawn CATS Station to take the Blue Line home. 

The walk took would have taken her a little more than 10 minutes. 

While she likely walked alone, this would be normal for anyone living in the City of Kiev in Ukraine. A city with 3 Million people that despite the endless Russia attacks, is actually far safer than Charlotte. 

Charlotte's murder rate was approximately 11.1 per 100,000 residents in 2024, in the city of Kiev (Kyiv) the estimate ranges from 3.5 to 4.8 and is considered by many in Europe to be very high.

Cedar's Take:

Those who look away and turn a blind eye to this murder, are as guilty of uncaring indifference as Charlotte’s Mayor Vi Lyles.

The mayor's statement issued nearly a week after Iryna's death is extremely troubling:

"Charlotte is by and large a safe city. CATS by and large is a safe transit system. 

… tragic incidents like these should force us to look at what we are doing across our community to address root causes. We will never arrest our way out issues such (as) homelessness....

… those who are unhoused are more frequently the victim of crimes and not the perpetrators. 

Too many people who are on the street need a safe place to sleep and wrap around services to lift them up.

We, as a community, must do better for those members who… have no place to go."

And the idiocy of CATS management is no better:

Brent Cagle:

"On this night, I think that while the outcome is horrific, it’s terrible, the system, the processes, they all functioned as they should have on that night....,” 

The Mayor should resign as should Brent Cagle.

Anyone thinking of voting yes to allow Charlotte and Mecklenburg County to raise the sales tax by 13.5% to fund more of this madness needs to really reflect long and hard about being complicit in the murder of the next Lynx victim. 

Why Iryna Zarutska 's Death Means No To The Transit Tax

Charlotte City Council and the Mecklenburg County Commision want you to approve a 13.33% increase in our local sales tax. Of course they will say "it's only a penny" but over the course of a year it could cost you hundreds of dollars.

Plus, if you need to make repairs on your home or property the additional costs added to the price of materials in Mecklenburg County could be in the thousands.

Taxation is theft and taxation without accountability is the worst kind of theft.

City leaders want the money to fund transportation in Charlotte the majority of the money for Light Rail.

The plan as it stands is poorly conceived and without any guardrails and zero accountability.

Honor System

Charlotte's Lynx operates on the "Honor System" you buy a ticket ride to your stop and exit the train yet hundreds ride daily for free.

And there is no plan to enforce fare payment.

Decarlos Brown was riding for free when he murdered Iryna Zarutska.

It's an open secret that fares aren't enforced on the Blue Line says local news station WSOC TV.

Charlotte's LYNX system is not self-funded. It relies on a mix of local, state, and federal funding, with only a small portion of its revenue coming from fares. 

Which explains why they don't care if you ride for free.

But it creates a safety gap because people who don't adhere to the "honor system" are by and large criminals and in the case of Iryan Zartska killers. 

The system's funding sources include:

Local sales tax: In 1998, Mecklenburg County voters approved a half-cent sales tax to help finance public transportation.

Federal grants: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has provided significant funding for LYNX projects through programs like the Capital Investment Grant Program. For example, the FTA covered half the cost of the Blue Line Extension.

State funding: The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) provides state-level financial support for transit projects.

Loans: The LYNX system has also received loans, such as the $180 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the Blue Line Extension. 

The Bottom line is they don't care that Decarlos Brown didn't pay a fare in fact Brown has most likely never paid a fare.

Why fare enforcement is important?

Filtering out disorder:

People who routinely evade fares are more likely to engage in other behaviors, from minor disruptions to serious crimes like harassment, vandalism, or violence. 

Improving safety perception:

Consistent enforcement helps create a safer and more comfortable environment for paying passengers, deterring those who would make the system uncomfortable or unsafe. 

Proactive crime prevention:

Fare enforcement can act as a proactive measure to identify and intercept individuals who are already using the system for criminal activity, rather than just checking for payment. 

Examples and evidence:

SEPTA:

Officials at Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) have stated that when fare evasion enforcement is increased, rates of crime and disorder on the system consistently decrease. 

Metro (D.C. and LA):

Officials in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles have noted a link between fare evasion and violent crime on their systems. 

Federal studies:

A federal study mentioned by WSOC TV indicates an overlap between unpaid fares and increased crime on transit. 

With all this money going to transportation why is there is no plan to improve security?

CATS tells local news media that they don't know if Decarlos Brown purchased a ticket when was on board and murdered Iryna. 

But had there been a system in place to enforce compliance we all know this girl would not have been murdered.

Yet CATS leadership say enforcement doesn't inherently screen for weapons or address criminal tendencies directly.

In fact CATS Director Brent Cagle is drinking the same deflection Kool-Aid as Vi Lyles

“On this night, I think that while the outcome is horrific, it’s terrible, the system, the processes, they all functioned as they should have on that night,” Cagle said. “Now, I think, knowing what we know now, there may have been other opportunities for this, for this person to have got the help they needed, or to, you know, not been where they weren’t at night. But on this night, I believe that processes worked.”

CATS even goes as far as to say everything was successful.

“I want to talk about the things that were successful that night,” CATS Security Director told the local news. “The 911 call went in. And then the response from the call coming in six minutes, this person was in police custody.”

Clearly from the Mayor on down, City of Charlotte management is tone deaf and they clearly are not reading the room.

This fall we all need to send a strong message of NO!

NO we don't appreciate City Leadership's response to this girl's death and NO we are not going to pay for more of the same mismanagement with our tax dollars! 

NO funding of Light Rail until city leaders get there house in order!

The bottom line had CATS been a better steward of our tax dollars Iryna Zarutska would be alive today and the tax increase of 13.33 percent would not be needed.