Former President Donald Trump has called for the death penalty for Decarlos Brown Jr., the 34-year-old suspect charged with the brutal stabbing death of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light rail train on August 22, 2025.
In a fiery Truth Social post, Trump demanded a “quick” trial, blasting Democratic policies for allowing Brown, who has 14 prior arrests and a history of mental health issues, to remain free after a cashless bail release in January.
Surveillance footage released by the Charlotte Area Transit System captured the unprovoked attack, where Brown allegedly stabbed Zarutska in the neck. Facing state charges of first-degree murder and a federal charge for causing death on a mass transit system, Brown could face life imprisonment or the death penalty if convicted.
U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi vowed to pursue the maximum penalty. The tragedy has ignited national outrage over crime and transit safety, with Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles announcing increased police patrols and new security measures on the Lynx Blue Line.