Desk Reports:
A young Ukrainian refugee was brutally murdered on a train in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. The release of video of the horrific incident has sparked a national debate, particularly about the failure to curb crime in major US cities.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said 23-year-old Irina Zarutska was brutally stabbed on a train at around 10 p.m. on Aug. 22. She had fled to the United States with her mother, brother and sister in 2022 to escape the war in Ukraine. Family and friends said she quickly adapted to her new life.
In the video, Irina boards the train and sits in front of the accused. About four and a half minutes later, the accused pulls a knife out of his pocket and stabs her three times. Police documents say there was no conversation, let alone an argument, between the two before the attack.
The suspect, 34-year-old DeCarlos Brown, has been arrested. He has been charged with first-degree murder. He has previous convictions for armed robbery, fraud and vandalism. He also has a history of mental health issues. The court has ordered him to undergo a 60-day mental health evaluation.
Charlotte Mayor V. Lys faced criticism for not naming the victim in his initial response, instead focusing on the suspect’s mental health and homelessness. He later revealed the name of Irina Zarutska on social media and offered his condolences to the victim’s family. He also spoke about the need to rethink the city’s safety. However, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy strongly criticized the mayor’s statement, calling it “avoidance of responsibility.”
The incident has sparked a debate about the failure to curb violent crime and the weaknesses of the justice system. White House policymaker Stephen Miller has also accused the media of not giving enough attention to the killing.
Although the police department says violent crime in Charlotte has dropped 25 percent between January and June of this year, Irina’s murder has heightened fear among city residents.
Irina, who fled to the United States to escape the daily bombings in Ukraine, eventually became a victim of violence there. Remembering her, a family friend said, “She had a heart of gold. She was always helping. It’s so sad that we lost someone like that.”
