23-Year-Old Ukrainian Refugee Iryna Zarutska’s Final Moments Captured in Chilling Video
It was meant to be an ordinary train ride in Charlotte, North Carolina. But within minutes, a young woman fleeing the war in Ukraine would lose her life in a violent attack now captured on video. On September 9, 2025, newly released surveillance footage from the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) revealed the final moments of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, who was fatally stabbed aboard a Charlotte light rail train last month, according to ABC affiliate WSOC.
The attack occurred on Friday, August 22, as the light rail approached East/West Boulevard Station. According to video footage, Zarutska — wearing a black shirt and cap — was seated in an aisle seat with headphones on. Behind her sat 27-year-old Decarlos Brown, who was wearing a red hooded jacket. According to investigators, the two had no interaction before the attack. Moments later, the footage shows Brown suddenly pulling out a knife and stabbing Zarutska multiple times in front of horrified passengers.
Fellow riders rushed to her side, desperately trying to help her. Brown, meanwhile, walked to the other end of the train and removed…
