Donald Trump Reacts After Ukrainian Refugee Tragically Killed in Charlotte Stabbing
The tragic death of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee
Iryna Zarutska was just another passenger when she boarded the late-night Blue Line train after it pulled into Scaleybark station, just a few miles outside of downtown Charlotte. She wore khaki pants and a dark shirt. Her long blonde hair had been tucked under a hat from Zepeddie’s Pizzeria where she worked.
Like nearby passengers, the 23-year-old bowed her head as the train continued on, absorbed by the phone in her hand. Zarutska, a refugee from Ukraine, had picked an empty row, and sat in front of a man in a red sweatshirt, unaware of the two’s imminent collision course.
Just four minutes later, Decarlos Brown, the passenger behind her, dug into the fold of his clothes and took out what appeared to be a knife. For a moment, he looked back out the window, as if that was all he was going to do. But in a quick movement, he launched up and swung his arm over the seat and fatally stabbed Zarutska, who clutched her face and throat before slouching to the ground.
Zarutska died on the train from her injuries as passengers kneeled over her trying to help. Brown has been charged with first-degree murder in her killing.In the days after the release of video of the attack, the stabbing and Brown’s lengthy criminal history – including convictions for armed robbery, larceny and breaking and entering – have been decried by the Trump administration and conservative politicians as an example of the violent crime they say plagues many Democrat-led cities across the United States.
The crime has become a rallying cry as the administration seeks to justify the deployment of federal troops to Los Angeles and Washington, DC, even as President Donald Trump threatens to deploy the National Guard to Chicago.
“North Carolina, and every State, needs LAW AND ORDER, and only Republicans will deliver it!,” Trump said on Truth Social. He called Brown a “career criminal.”
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles and Brown’s family have both said the killing is in part due to failures of a court system that allowed Brown to re-enter the community despite a record of mental illness, and convictions for armed robbery, felony larceny and breaking and entering.
Ultimately, the paths of two people fatally converged – a woman who escaped violence only to face it in the US and a man whose family members believe he was failed by both the criminal justice and the health care system.
Zarutska embraced US life
Zarutska had a gift. Her mother called it an “artist’s gift.” It wasn’t her ability to sculpt or design clothes – though she loved to do that. Zarutska, who had a degree in art and restoration from Synergy College in Kyiv, often bestowed her art on family and friends.
Her “artist’s gift” was what her mother affectionately called her ability to sleep for “wonderfully long stretches.”
She was a homebody, and “happiest when surrounded by family and loved ones,” her family said in her obituary.
Zarutska left Ukraine in August 2022, six months after Russia invaded, to escape the war.
has shocked both the local community and international audiences. Having fled the war in Ukraine with her family in search of safety, Iryna was riding the Charlotte Blue Line train when her life was suddenly cut short. The senseless nature of the attack, caught on train surveillance footage, spread rapidly online and quickly became a topic of national discussion. Many were left questioning how such violence could strike someone who had already endured so much hardship.
Authorities say Iryna was seated quietly, listening to music on her phone, when a man identified as Decarlos Brown Jr. allegedly stabbed her without provocation. Witnesses and police reports confirm there was no prior interaction between the two. Zarutska died at the scene, while Brown—who has a known history of criminal charges and mental health struggles—was taken into custody and later charged with first-degree murder. He has since been denied bond and ordered to undergo a competency evaluation ahead of his next court hearing.
The horrifying footage released by Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) on September 5 fueled widespread outrage across social media. Viewers from around the world expressed grief and frustration over the shocking incident, with many calling attention to broader issues of public safety and the repeated failures in addressing violent crime. As the case drew growing attention, it eventually reached the national spotlight—prompting reporters to ask President Donald Trump for his response.
Speaking at Joint Base Andrews on September 7, Trump called the attack “horrible” before acknowledging he had not been fully briefed on the case. He later expanded on his comments in a Truth Social post, condemning the suspect’s lengthy criminal record and criticizing policies that allowed him to remain free despite multiple prior arrests. “Criminals like this need to be locked up,” Trump wrote, reflecting the anger and concern shared by many following Iryna’s tragic death. The case continues to unfold, with Brown scheduled to appear in court again on September 19.