The family of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska is demanding accountability following her fatal stabbing on a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina, last month.

Zarutska, who had come to the United States seeking safety, was attacked and killed in an incident that was caught on video and has drawn widespread outrage.

NEW: The family of Iryna Zarutska has declined to have her body returned to Ukraine, says she would have wanted to be buried in the U.S. because “she loved America.”

“After Iryna’s death, the embassy in Ukraine called and said, ‘We’ll help you bring her home.'”

“Her family said… pic.twitter.com/OfrRVWJAIx

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 9, 2025

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Zarutska’s family issued a statement through their attorneys describing their grief and calling for systemic changes in the city’s approach to public safety.

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“We are heartbroken beyond words. Iryna came here to find peace and safety, and instead her life was stolen from her in the most horrific way,” the family spokesperson said in a statement provided to WSOC-9.

“No family should have to go through this.”

#NEW: Thru an attorney the family of Iryna Zarutska is speaking out.

In part they say, ““We are heartbroken beyond words. Iryna came here to find peace and safety, and instead her life was stolen from her in the most horrific way. No family should have to go through this.”

— Hunter Sáenz (@Hunt_Saenz) September 9, 2025

The alleged attacker, 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., has a lengthy criminal record.

Authorities confirmed he had been arrested 14 times prior to the deadly stabbing.

Court records also indicated he suffered from schizophrenia.

Despite his history, Brown had been released from jail in January under terms that family members of both the victim and the suspect say failed to protect the public.

Brown’s brother, Jeremiah, said he believed the tragedy could have been avoided if stronger measures had been in place.

“I think they could have pretty much prevented it then,” Jeremiah told the New York Post, referring to the decision by a magistrate judge to release Brown earlier this year.

Jeremiah expressed both concern and frustration with the justice system, noting that his brother remained a danger despite his mental health challenges.

“He could do it again. They should still treat him for his mental issues but there are consequences for his actions,” he said.

“I think he should suffer the consequences.”

He also offered condolences to Zarutska’s family, adding, “I hope for the family impacted by the lady on the train. I hope they get the support they need.”

Video evidence from the incident reportedly shows Brown sitting directly behind Zarutska for several minutes before pulling out a knife and stabbing her repeatedly.

The attack, which unfolded in full view of passengers, was described by investigators as unprovoked and random.

In their statement, Zarutska’s relatives urged prosecutors not only to pursue the case aggressively but also to confront what they described as a “broader crisis in public safety and systemic failure.”

They also asked the public and media outlets to refrain from circulating the disturbing footage of the killing, citing concerns for her dignity and the family’s ongoing trauma.

Local prosecutors have filed charges against Brown, and federal authorities have also stepped in.

On Tuesday, the Justice Department announced additional charges against Brown for committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system.

The case has intensified calls for reform in Charlotte’s criminal justice system, with critics pointing to repeated lapses that allowed a violent offender with a long record to remain free.

As Zarutska’s family presses for justice, they continue to highlight not only their personal loss but also the need for broader accountability to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

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