Her chance to start anew in America ended before it began. On August 22, 2025, 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska, a recent immigrant seeking safety from war, was fatally stabbed in Charlotte, North Carolina. Police say the attacker, 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., who has a long criminal record, will face first-degree murder charges once released from the hospital.
Zarutska’s grieving family, sharing her story through a GoFundMe appeal, described her as someone who came to the U.S. for protection, only to be met with violence.
The killing has sparked outrage over transit safety in Charlotte, where the attack occurred, and ignited anger that Brown — with years of prior arrests — was still on the streets. City leaders are now under pressure to take immediate action to restore public trust.
Police urge anyone with information to come forward as the investigation continues.
