America is mourning the loss of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, who was killed in Charlotte on August 22 while boarding a train. Just moments before, she texted her boyfriend, “she’d be home soon.” She never made it back.

Iryna had fled Ukraine with her family in 2022, working at a pizzeria while studying English at community college. Friends described her as kind, hardworking, and hopeful. Her boyfriend, Stanislav “Stas” Nikulytsia, shared his grief online with a photo and a broken heart emoji, which deeply resonated on social media.

Outrage grew when it was revealed that the accused attacker, Decarlos Brown Jr., had been released on cashless bail months earlier despite 14 prior arrests and warnings from his own family about his mental health. Stas condemned Magistrate Judge Teresa Stokes for releasing Brown, calling the decision a failure of justice.

North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore also criticized Judge Stokes, declaring her “unfit for the bench” and demanding reform to stop repeat offenders from harming innocent people.

As Charlotte mourns, Iryna’s stolen future with Stas symbolizes the deep human cost. Her life, filled with courage and promise, now serves as a call for justice and reform.