A man is facing the death penalty after being accused of fatally stabbing a Ukrainian refugee on a train in North Carolina last month, in an incident that has shocked the US after footage of the incident was released.
Decarlos Brown Jr, who has an extensive criminal history with 14 previous arrests, stands accused of drawing a knife and killing 23-year-old Iryna Zarutzka with no warning, in what appears to be a random assault caught on camera.
The tragedy swiftly became a political flashpoint, with the Trump administration seizing upon it to claim that Democrat-controlled cities are failing to safeguard residents from violent criminality.
“Iryna Zarutzka was a young woman living the American dream- her horrific murder is a direct result of failed soft-on-crime policies that put criminals before innocent people,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi in a statement. “We will seek the maximum penalty for this unforgivable act of violence- he will never again see the light of day as a free man.”
Determined to forge a secure future, Zarutska had sheltered in a bomb bunker in Ukraine before fleeing the conflict and making her escape to the US, according to her family. CCTV footage from a train in Charlotte shows the horrifying moment a woman was attacked and killed on August 22.
The victim had just boarded the light-rail train and taken a seat in front of Brown when he suddenly pulled out a pocketknife and slashed her throat, causing panic among the other passengers as she fell to the floor, reports the Mirror US.
Brown has a chequered past, including time spent in prison, a brief commitment for schizophrenia, and an arrest earlier this year after repeatedly dialling 999 from a hospital. His criminal record dates back to 2011.
His mother revealed to local television that she had tried to have him involuntarily committed to a psychiatric facility earlier this year due to his violent behaviour at home.
He now faces federal charges for causing death on a mass transportation system, a crime which could result in life imprisonment or even the death penalty. The Associated Press reports that additional charges may be forthcoming.
Alongside the federal case, Brown is also facing state charges of first-degree murder. If found guilty, he could face the death penalty, although North Carolina has not carried out an execution since 2006.
President Trump was quick to comment on the incident, questioning why Brown was not already behind bars given his extensive criminal history.
“I have seen the horrific video of a beautiful, young Ukrainian refugee, who came to America to escape the vicious War in Ukraine, and was innocently riding the Metro in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she was brutally ambushed by a mentally deranged lunatic,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
“The perpetrator was a well-known career criminal, who had been previously arrested and released on cashless bail in January, a total of 14 times.
“What the hell was he doing riding the train, and walking the streets? Criminals like this need to be locked up,” he continued.
Fellow Republicans have also seized upon the case, blaming Democrats for what they describe as spiralling crime rates.
“Americans have to feel safe in the cities that they live in,” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Fox News. “and this is a stark example of how leftist liberal policies are failing.”
Following the fatal stabbing, Charlotte has bolstered security across its transport network, Mayor Vi Lyles revealed in a letter to the city’s residents, branding the killing a “tragic failure by the courts and magistrates.”