Charlotte Train Stabbing Suspect Found Incompetent for Trial

Iryna Zarutska (left) and Decarlos Brown, Jr. Photo: New York Post / X

CHARLOTTE, NC — Federal court proceedings have been suspended against Decarlos Brown Jr., the man accused of fatally stabbing Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska aboard a Charlotte light-rail train, after a judge ruled that he is currently incompetent to stand trial.

Brown, 34, is charged in the Aug. 22, 2025, killing of Zarutska, who was attacked while riding the Lynx Blue Line after finishing a work shift. During a hearing on June 9, the court determined that Brown was not competent to proceed with trial. He is expected to remain in federal custody while undergoing treatment at a specialized facility designed to restore competency. Prosecutors said the case could move forward if medical professionals later determine that he is fit to stand trial.

The ruling comes in a case that drew national attention because of the circumstances of Zarutska's death and her journey to the United States. Born in Kyiv in 2002 and baptized Orthodox, Zarutska studied art and restoration before fleeing Ukraine with her mother and siblings following Russia's 2022 invasion. After spending months sheltering from bombardments in Kyiv, the family immigrated to North Carolina, where Zarutska worked, studied English, and pursued college courses while building a new life in the Charlotte area.

Federal prosecutors have charged Brown with committing an act of violence against a railroad carrier and mass transportation system resulting in death. Authorities allege that he stabbed Zarutska while she was commuting home from her job at a Charlotte pizzeria. A Bureau of Prisons evaluation previously found Brown incompetent to stand trial on related state charges, and officials say he will remain in custody throughout the treatment process.

Previously, the UOJ reporting that North Carolina passed Iryna’s Law following the fatal stabbing in Charlotte.

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