On the evening of August 22, 2025, a horrific act of violence unfolded aboard a Charlotte light rail train, claiming the life of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska. A passenger who witnessed the tragedy, referred to here as “Alex” to protect their identity, has shared a harrowing account of the incident, including Zarutska’s haunting last words: “I can’t breathe, what happened, I don’t know who he is.” Whispered in her final moments of consciousness, these words reveal the confusion and terror she experienced as her life slipped away. Alex’s testimony, shared exclusively for this report, not only humanizes the tragedy but also exposes critical failures in public transit safety and emergency response that allowed a survivable incident to turn fatal. This article, spanning 2000–2300 words, recounts the events of that night, Zarutska’s story, and the urgent need for systemic change.
A Routine Ride Turns Deadly
The evening began uneventfully for Iryna Zarutska. After finishing her shift at Zepeddie’s Pizzeria in Charlotte, North Carolina, around 9:30 p.m., she boarded the Lynx Blue Line train at Scaleybark station, likely heading home to her apartment in Huntersville. Dressed in her work uniform—a T-shirt with the pizzeria’s logo—and wearing AirPods, she took an aisle seat, scrolling through her phone. The train car was nearly empty, with only a handful of passengers, including Alex, who sat a few rows away. Unbeknownst to Zarutska, a 34-year-old man named Decarlos Brown Jr. was seated behind her, carrying a foldable pocketknife and a history of mental illness and criminal behavior.
“It was a typical late-night ride,” Alex recalled in an interview. “People were quiet, some on their phones, others half-asleep. Nothing seemed off until I heard a gasp and a thud.” Around 9:50 p.m., Brown stood, pulled the knife from his hoodie, and stabbed Zarutska three times, including at least once in the neck. The attack was swift, unprovoked, and brutal, lasting mere seconds. Zarutska, caught off guard, curled into a defensive position, her knees to her chest and a hand over her mouth. She looked up at her attacker in shock before collapsing to the floor.
Alex described the chaos that followed: “I saw her fall and heard her gasping. It was like the world stopped. I ran over, yelling, ‘Young lady, are you okay?’ She was still conscious, but barely. Her eyes were wide with fear, and blood was pouring out—on the floor, her clothes, everywhere. She managed to whisper, ‘I can’t breathe, what happened, I don’t know who he is.’ Then her eyes closed, and she slipped into a coma. We couldn’t do anything more.”
Those words have haunted Alex ever since. “Her voice was so faint, but the fear and confusion were clear. She didn’t know why this was happening or who he was. It was heartbreaking.” Other passengers tried to help, using scarves and jackets to press against her wounds, but without proper training or medical supplies, their efforts were futile. The train continued moving for several minutes, delaying access to emergency services. By the time paramedics arrived, Zarutska had lost too much blood and was pronounced dead at the scene. Brown, who exited the train shortly after the attack, was arrested on the platform, treated for a self-inflicted hand wound, and later charged with first-degree murder and a federal offense for causing a death on a mass transit system.
Iryna Zarutska: A Life of Resilience
Iryna Zarutska’s story is one of courage and hope, making her death all the more devastating. Born on May 22, 2002, in Kyiv, Ukraine, she grew up in a tight-knit family. The Russian invasion in 2022 forced her, her mother Anna, sister Valeriia, and brother Bohdan to flee their homeland, leaving behind her father, Stanislav Zarutskyi, due to martial law restrictions. The family endured unimaginable hardship, including time in a bomb shelter, before finding refuge in the United States.
Arriving in North Carolina in August 2022, Zarutska embraced her new life with determination. She initially lived with her uncle and aunt before moving in with her boyfriend, Stas Nikulytsia, in May 2025. She learned English quickly, enrolling at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, where she studied from 2023 to 2025. A graduate of Synergy College in Kyiv with a degree in Art and Restoration, Zarutska was a talented artist, creating murals, sculptures, and unique clothing designs that she shared with friends and family. Her creative spirit brought light to those around her.
Zarutska worked hard to build a future in America. She held jobs at an assisted living facility in Huntersville, where she formed close bonds with residents, and later at Zepeddie’s Pizzeria, rising from an entry-level role to line cook. Her dream was to become a veterinary assistant, reflecting her deep love for animals—she often walked neighbors’ dogs and cared for their pets. She was learning to drive, saving for her first car, and had texted her boyfriend just before boarding the train, excited to come home. Her uncle described her as “the glue of the family” and a “very, very caring person,” noting her gratitude for the opportunities she found in the U.S. In her final text to him, she expressed happiness about her new life, a poignant contrast to the tragedy that would soon unfold.
The Suspect: A Troubled History
Decarlos Brown Jr.’s background reveals a troubling pattern of mental health struggles and criminal activity, raising questions about missed opportunities to prevent the attack. Born in 1991, Brown had a history of arrests in Mecklenburg County since 2007, including convictions for breaking and entering, armed robbery, and possession of a firearm by a felon. He served over five years in prison for robbery with a dangerous weapon, released in September 2020.
After his release, Brown was diagnosed with schizophrenia, experiencing hallucinations and paranoia. His family reported that he believed the government had implanted a chip to control his actions. His mother, Michelle Dewitt, sought involuntary psychiatric commitment, but it was denied due to legal barriers. Brown stopped taking his medication and was placed in a homeless shelter. In early 2025, he made repeated 911 calls claiming a “man-made material” was controlling his body, leading to charges for misuse of 911, but he was released without bond.
In a jailhouse call with his sister Tracey Brown after the stabbing, Brown admitted to the attack but claimed external forces drove him. “Because she was reading my mind,” he said when asked why he targeted Zarutska, insisting that “materials” implanted by the government were responsible. His sister called the act “senseless and heartbreaking,” noting Zarutska’s status as a refugee. Witnesses reported Brown saying, “I got that White girl,” after the attack, though no clear motive has been established. Brown, homeless at the time, boarded the train without a ticket, highlighting gaps in fare enforcement and security.
A Community in Mourning
Zarutska’s death sent shockwaves through Charlotte, sparking grief and outrage. Her family grew alarmed when her phone’s location remained at the train station, rushing to the scene only to learn of her death. A vigil held a month later near Scaleybark station drew community members mourning her loss. Over 100 people from her assisted living job attended her funeral, which her father watched via FaceTime from Ukraine. The family chose not to repatriate her remains, seeing her life in America as a testament to her pursuit of the American dream.
Alex, the witness, remains deeply affected. “I hear her words every night: ‘I can’t breathe, what happened, I don’t know who he is.’ It’s a cry for answers in the face of something so wrong.” Alex advocates for better preparedness: “If we’d had first-aid kits or known how to stop the bleeding, maybe she could’ve held on until help arrived.”
The tragedy became a political flashpoint, with figures like former President Donald Trump condemning the attack and calling for tougher crime policies. Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles faced criticism for initially focusing on the suspect’s mental health rather than the victim, later pledging increased transit security and critiquing the court system for releasing repeat offenders. Community advocates have demanded mandatory first-aid training for transit staff, better security measures, and reforms to address mental health and criminal justice gaps.
Systemic Failures Exposed
Zarutska’s death highlights critical vulnerabilities in public transit safety. The Lynx Blue Line had no security personnel onboard, and patrols were not stationed in the area. The train’s failure to stop immediately after the attack delayed emergency response, a factor that likely contributed to Zarutska’s death from blood loss. Passengers, including Alex, lacked the training or tools to provide effective aid, underscoring the need for accessible trauma kits and basic first-aid education.
The suspect’s history points to broader systemic issues. Brown’s untreated mental illness and repeated encounters with the justice system were red flags that went unaddressed. His release without bond earlier in 2025, despite erratic behavior, reflects gaps in coordinating mental health care and criminal oversight. These failures allowed a known risk to board a train unchecked, carrying a weapon that ended Zarutska’s life.
Ukraine, Zarutska’s homeland, offers a potential model for improvement. Since the 2022 invasion, Ukrainian Railways has operated medical trains equipped with trauma kits and trained staff to evacuate wounded civilians and soldiers. Adapting such principles—equipping trains with emergency supplies, training operators in first aid, and ensuring real-time communication with emergency services—could enhance safety on systems like the Lynx Blue Line.
Honoring Iryna’s Memory
Iryna Zarutska came to America seeking safety after surviving war, only to meet a tragic end on a routine train ride. Her last words, whispered in fear and confusion, echo as a call for justice and reform. By addressing the failures exposed by her death—delayed response, inadequate training, lax security, and unaddressed mental health crises—society can honor her memory and ensure that no one else suffers such a fate. Zarutska’s resilience and dreams live on in the push for a safer, more compassionate world, where every second counts and every life is protected.
