A tragic incident that began with hope and ended in horror has deeply affected the Charlotte community and beyond. Twenty-three-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, who fled the war in her homeland seeking safety in the United States, was violently attacked and killed on a city train platform. The brutal act has left residents in shock, struggling to comprehend the senseless violence. In a recent and disturbing jailhouse phone call, the accused perpetrator, 34-year-old Declaros Brown, explained his reasoning to his sister, offering a glimpse into his disturbed mindset. Investigators have noted that Brown has a documented history of severe mental illness, and the revelations from the call have raised serious concerns about how the tragedy might have been prevented.
During the recorded conversation, Declaros claimed that he had been “controlled” by mysterious materials he believed were implanted in his body. Speaking in fragmented sentences, he told his sister, “I hurt my hand, stabbing her. I don’t even know the lady. I never said not one word to her at all. Why would somebody stab somebody for no reason?” Tracey Brown, his sister, expressed confusion and sought clarification on why Iryna was targeted. Declaros insisted that he had not acted of his own free will and blamed an external force for the attack. Tracey later disclosed that her brother had sought psychiatric help for years, but despite multiple clear signs of psychosis, he had repeatedly been released back into the community.
Surveillance footage from the Charlotte light rail system presents a stark contrast to Declaros’ account. Investigators report that Iryna was quietly seated with headphones on when Brown, sitting behind her, suddenly launched a violent and unprovoked assault. Passengers rushed to her aid as the train came to a stop. Brown attempted to evade detection by moving to another car and removing his hoodie. Police officers were waiting on the platform and took him into custody immediately. Authorities confirmed that Brown now faces first-degree murder charges and has been permanently banned from Charlotte’s public transit system.
The case has sparked widespread public mourning and political condemnation. Charlotte’s mayor described Iryna’s death as a “senseless tragedy,” while President Donald Trump called the attack “horrible” and emphasized the need for a thorough investigation. For Iryna’s family, who fled the devastation of war in Ukraine only to experience such unimaginable loss in their new home, the tragedy is almost unbearable. Community members have organized vigils and are calling for reforms in mental health intervention programs, hoping to prevent similar losses for other families in the future.
