A federal grand jury has indicted Decarlos Dejuan Brown, Jr., 34, for an act of violence resulting in the death of Iryna Zarutska on Charlotte’s Lynx Blue Line light rail. The announcement was made by Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Charlotte Division.
According to court documents, on August 22, 2025, surveillance footage captured Zarutska entering a light rail car and sitting ahead of Brown. About four minutes later, Brown allegedly pulled a knife from his pocket and stabbed Zarutska three times from behind. After the attack, it is alleged that Brown walked away from Zarutska before being located by responding officers on the platform.
Brown faces one count of violence against a railroad carrier and mass transportation system resulting in death. If convicted, he could receive life imprisonment or the death penalty. The indictment includes a Notice of Special Findings that allows prosecutors to seek the death penalty; however, “The Justice Department has not yet announced whether it will seek the death penalty.”
In addition to federal charges, state charges for first degree murder are also pending against Brown.
The FBI is leading the investigation with help from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Cervantes and Edward R. Ryan are prosecuting the case.
“The charges against Brown are allegations and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law,” according to authorities.
