Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, 23, was fatally stabbed in a random attack on the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) Blue Line in North Carolina. She had fled the war in Ukraine with her family, only to lose her life in what police described as an unprovoked assault. The suspect, Decarlos Brown Jr., reportedly stabbed her in the neck while sitting behind her and then “calmly walked away.”

Disturbing surveillance footage showed Iryna listening to music and looking at her phone just before the attack. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Police quickly arrested Brown and charged him with first-degree murder.

Brown, who has a criminal record and mental health issues, was denied bond during his August 29 court hearing and ordered to undergo a mental evaluation. Outrage intensified after the video was released on September 5 and went viral.

Public reaction has been marked by grief and shock, with international attention on the case. President Donald Trump called the incident “horrible” and later criticized the justice system, particularly cashless bail, saying repeat offenders like Brown should not have been free.