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.
Well.... That should effectively "cook" this thug. Buh Bye.... 👋
ReplyDeleteCharge those cowards who left her to die as well
ReplyDeleteI was wondering why they didn’t help her.
DeleteThere is no duty help / rescue law in North Carolina. Although it is a moral / ethical dilemma there will be no charges forth for the people who watched her die.
DeleteIn 2016, I was standing outside of BoA and watch a black man beating a woman in the street. The DV rolled down the street toward the arena, while 100s watched.
Delete2 CMPD officers(short brunette and male with high top) both walked away and hid behind the ATM.
He could have killed that woman outside of the Ritz Carlton. That sounds like this story, but with a white chick.
The citizens are crazy, but there is no enforcement from pathetic imposter cops.
Fix this.
Where were they for Demonte Forde or whatever his name is that knocked a lady out of her Keds on Sugar Creek
ReplyDeleteGood point
DeleteHey. I have a great idea. Maybe Garry can get some of his Deputies to start riding the train and take some enforcement action. Time to put all that training to work. The worst that will happen is they kill another suspect like they usually do in the jail. And that’s not such a bad thing.
ReplyDeleteI support your idea. But the deputies are fat and lazy, though.
DeleteDon’t worry CedarNation!
ReplyDeleteMayor says CATS drivers can now enforce the law on trains and buses.
Have you seen the drivers???????hahahahhahahahahaha
How can they enforce the law locked in their little drive area on the train?
DeleteThe salary for Charlotte's City Manager, Marcus Jones, has been reported as one of the highest, if not the highest, in the U.S. since a significant pay raise was approved in late 2022. As of June 2025, Jones's total annual compensation was $480,229, making him the city's highest-paid employee.
ReplyDeleteThats insane
DeleteJJ exit package makes sense to people like that. It’s all Monopoly money. But now that the MacArthur Foundation grants are in the open, Fed money is under scrutiny and this tax increase is doa, it’s going to be extra tight. Means expect a 1% cola this year from the graciousness of our city.
DeleteIf only I had a magistrate job I could send felons to my treatment center and bill Medicaid.
Charlotte: we all knew it had turned ghetto, now the whole world knows. Chicago, Gary, Detroit, Memphis, Charlotte
ReplyDeleteI’d like to send my thanks to all the dark-skinned residents who voted for Patrick and Lawanna and Vi and every twisted judge and Jeff Jackson and Bob Walton who turned our city into this dump. Wakanda was a myth. The Charlotte of Gantt was reality. You destroyed it. Your silence made you complicit.
Worse off is we all know, as bad as this case is, there are many every year just as bad. Like the street party shooting on da ford that got glazed over.
Sra. Bondi....Póngase las pilas....
ReplyDelete¿Qué acto no tiene? El sospechoso está siendo acusado federalmente y mientras el fiscal haga su trabajo, nunca volverá a respirar aire fresco.
DeleteSpencer Merriwether when asked about the murder case of the lady on the train,standard BS answer I cannot talk about any specifics of the case.WHY/? It;s not like you are going to try him to start with.It will be a BS plea to voluntary manslaughter or Failure to pay train fare.You might could win that one.It is a shame we do not a have a video of the crime.Oh ,,we do.Never mind the DA will get to it in 5 or 6 years.If only we had some proof he did it.I wonder if the DA could get the same jurors that found OJ not guilty? One juror said they just didn;t have enough proof There will no justice in the this GOD forsaken county.Federal case YES. The DA here cannot spell justice,it's a flea on a horse's rear.
ReplyDeleteLet’s put all the Community Coordinators on the trains for a few hours.
ReplyDeleteYea, and the SRO during the summer months. That would make too much sense though
DeleteLOL at the people that chose to stay after Wes.
DeleteA security detail for the mayor???CMPD short more than 200 officers and the brass does this!Talk about bad timing.Does anybody think past supper time down there?Words fail me to express the contempt for the city administration that cooks this crap up,stirs the pot,and says 'Doesn't that smell good?It smells like sh-- to me !!Oh well another day in the crown jewel of the south.
ReplyDeleteGood spot to hide Aquino so she doesn’t contaminate the troops…
DeleteLeave number 2 alone. Shes been good, haven’t heard from her since she left A3.
DeleteBro it scary that she out tested so many people at CMPD. You can out score a crazy lying whore? You don’t need to be here any longer.
DeleteIn August 1974.I was serving a ADW warrant in Charlotte on N Myers street.Kicked the door down after he said he was not coming to the door.I was shot left side of head with a 20 gauge shotgun.Suspect taken into custody by responding back up officers.Eight days in CMH ,one operation to remove pellets,3 months at home,back to work.Six months later another operation to repair skull.Suspect charged ADWIK police officer.A few months later,I read in the Charlotte News,charges were nol prossed in the ADWIK CASE.Not one person from CPD or the DA's office had contacted me to let me know.I wrote this to let people know that this crap in the DA;s office has been going on for a long time.Different DAS ,same results.You would have thought your own department would have stood up for you. 51 YEARS LATER,SAME CRAP, DIFFERENT PLAYERS.Dont ever expect much from the da's office or CMPD and you will never be disappointed.
ReplyDeleteCMPD will always let you down when you get kicked in the balls. It has happened over and over again to good people. But they aways put on an average show with the half hearted speeches about how they care for their people.
Delete100s of good people have quit this place
DeleteI’ve heard about that case with the shot officer. Another cop got shot in the face and nothing happened.
ReplyDeleteDo your time and get out. Don’t roll the dice longer than necessary. Those supervisors were all useless “police” on patrol and investigations. They don’t go outside their homes.
BLACK FATIGUE!!!
ReplyDeleteHow does the mayor recover from this mess? How does any cop at CMPD take your job seriously? Lookin like clowns and bums out here.
ReplyDeleteEurika! We can put city ambassadors on the trains?
ReplyDeleteWe have plenty of mentally fucked up officers that can’t drive a car. Put them on the light rail and the stations.
ReplyDeleteProblem Solved.
JJ can ride the trains. He ain’t doin’ shit!
DeleteNah. Mayor needs police 24/7 at her house now so JJ has to sleep over.
DeleteCan I sign up for hidey Hole…I mean Vi’s protective detail?
ReplyDeleteWon't be a bad gig if you can get it! Country Club, luxurious meals, and afternoon teas.
DeleteShe still have her place across from Firestation 16? Nice area, lots of options for food.
DeleteIronic that shortly after getting caught being boned by someone other than her Sgt husband, CMPD puts Lt Laughs-A-Lot on their website as an inspiration to women in policing.
ReplyDeleteThat post now fucking laughable…. Thats the best they can do…. I know one will say anything to get her way…
DeleteLt Spindler directs traffic and did EM pick ups. Now speaks about helping people during their worse hour. Help me get a taxi?
DeleteWhere there is one liar…there are more.
Drop the names you scared fag
DeleteLet’s just take a moment and talk about camaraderie and “taking care of each other “. We ALL are going through something at any given moment in time. We are each other’s back up. Let’s just try and be civil with each other and take some under our wings so to speak. INSTEAD OF bad talking about each other. My God. We are all officers who believe in God or our higher power. Let’s just try and get along. We can all quarterback a call etc. But we need to be one
ReplyDeleteNo apologies here. When someone who attempted to career fuck you falls, you celebrate the victory. We are not one team.
Delete1147
DeleteYes, these are dirty people and need some exposure. Plenty for than that LT that are useless and cowardly.
Amen 11:47!
DeleteThere are good female officers that we need to do rape cases and child offenses. Females also are writers when it comes to reporting. Beyond those points, how many actual female police do have that are worth their roster spot and pay check? Please name the good ones.
ReplyDeleteSomeone must’ve gotten spanked by a female in leadership and got his little feelings hurt. Boo hoo, poor little dick Timmy! Stfu
DeleteWho in leadership has ever actually done a good job at policing the streets? Male or Female?
DeleteGood female officers like ones who report SA at the academy but don’t follow through with it. He still got fired but come on, you’re a cop follow through
DeleteCircumstantial!
DeleteDude was a creep and needed to be gone
Delete720, it’s a legit question. Don’t deflect with jokes.
ReplyDeleteName some females that are worth a damn who arrest and convict criminals. That is the job of police. We are not social workers or counselors. We are not teachers or artists. We are not EMT or nurses.
When you can name some male cops who actually go to calls, aren’t scared to go hands on and can’t talk to people in the mist of conflict. ALOT of males are cowards in this department.
DeleteYes, men are cowards. But the question was to highlight females that actually earn their check.
DeleteThe females on VCAT and Crime Gun would run circles around you so sit down you keyboard cop.
ReplyDeleteGood for them, they are the outliers
DeleteNo, do I need to bring up how she was getting smashed on duty , probably how she got on Vcat , so sit down
DeleteGetting on the train by the arena be like…
ReplyDeletehttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OxvyS9GTu0E&pp=ygUSRmluYWwgZmlnaHQgc3Vid2F5
💯
DeleteYou hit a black guy and woman in that video. You are fired and canceled as per city policy. The jeans at work make the guy look like VCAT.
Delete