North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein said on social media that he was “appalled” by newly released footage of a Ukrainian refugee being fatally stabbed on a Charlotte light rail train last month.
“I’m heartbroken for the family of Iryna Zarutska, who lost their loved one to this senseless act of violence,” Stein wrote on X Monday, Sept. 8. “We need more cops on the beat to keep people safe.”
FOX News reported that the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) released surveillance footage from the horrific attack over the weekend.
The attack took place on the Lynx Blue Line on August 22, shortly before 10 p.m.
According to an affidavit obtained by ABC News, Zarutska was sitting in an aisle seat directly in front of her attacker when “the suspect pulls a knife out of his pocket, unfolds the knife, pauses, then stands up, and strikes the victim three times.”
“Blood drips on the floor as the defendant walks away from the victim.” According to CNN, the affidavit states that the victim becomes unresponsive shortly after the attack.
According to CNN, there appears to have been no interaction between the victim and defendant prior to the incident.
Decarlos Brown, Jr., 34, was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the attack on August 28, according to WBTV.
According to her obituary, Zarutska, an artist from Kyiv, moved to the United States with her mother, sister, and brother “to escape the war, and she quickly embraced her new life in the United States.”
“She dreamed of pursuing a career as a Veterinary Assistant while also working toward her independence by learning to drive,” according to the tribute.
According to CNN, Brown has previously been convicted of armed robbery, felony larceny, and breaking and entering. His mother told the outlet that he was homeless and had mental health issues.
Gov. Stein has since stated that his budget proposal calls for “more funding to hire more well-trained police officers.”
“I call upon the legislature to pass my law enforcement recruitment and retention package to address vacancies in our state and local agencies so they can stop these horrific crimes and hold violent criminals accountable,” according to what he wrote.
