Federal Charges Filed in Fatal Charlotte Stabbing of Ukrainian Refugee
Federal Charges Filed in Fatal Charlotte Stabbing of Ukrainian Refugee
The Justice Department has announced federal charges against Decarlos Brown, 34, in connection with the fatal stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, 23, on a Charlotte light rail train last month. Brown faces a federal charge of committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system, which could carry a death penalty sentence if he is convicted.
Brown, who also faces a first-degree murder charge in North Carolina, allegedly used a pocketknife in the unprovoked attack. US Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, Russ Ferguson, confirmed that the incident remains under investigation and additional charges could be filed.
The case has drawn significant national attention, with White House officials and Republican leaders, including former President Donald Trump, citing the incident as an example of rising violent crime in Democratic-led cities. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and Attorney General Pam Bondi have vowed to seek the maximum possible sentence for Brown, highlighting his lengthy criminal history.
Zarutska, who had fled a bomb shelter in Ukraine and recently moved to the U.S. with her partner, was on her way home from work when she was attacked. Her family has stated that the U.S. is now her home and final resting place.
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