The Justice Department announced Tuesday that the man accused of fatally stabbing 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte, North Carolina, will now face federal charges that could carry the death penalty.

BREAKING: Trump DOJ will pursue the DEATH PENALTY for Decarlos Brown Jr. in the murder of Iryna Zarutska, DOJ official confirms, per @bennyjohnson.

CAN’T HAPPEN SOON ENOUGH. pic.twitter.com/nVYg1jE3x5

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) September 9, 2025

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Zarutska was attacked late Friday night at the East/West Boulevard light rail station in Charlotte’s South End.

According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, officers responded just before 10 p.m. and found Zarutska suffering multiple stab wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Her family said in a statement posted to a GoFundMe page that Zarutska had “recently arrived in the United States, seeking safety from the war and hoping for a new beginning. Tragically, her life was cut short far too soon.”

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Authorities identified the suspect as 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., a homeless man with a long criminal history.

Witness video showed Brown sitting near Zarutska on a city bus before pulling out a butcher knife and repeatedly stabbing her without provocation.

Brown then exited the bus as the victim collapsed.

Police arrested Brown at the scene and charged him with first-degree murder under North Carolina law.

Federal prosecutors have now added a charge of causing death on a mass transportation system, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment or the death penalty.

Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that federal prosecutors will seek the most severe punishment.

“Iryna Zarutska was a young woman living the American dream — her horrific murder is a direct result of failed soft-on-crime policies that put criminals before innocent people,” Bondi said in a statement.

“I have directed my attorneys to federally prosecute DeCarlos Brown Jr., a repeat violent offender with a history of violent crime, for murder. We will seek the maximum penalty for this unforgivable crime, and he will never again see the light of day as a free man.”

North Carolina law allows for capital punishment in first-degree murder cases, although the state has not carried out an execution since 2006.

The federal charge, however, ensures prosecutors will have the option of pursuing the death penalty in federal court.

Court records show that Brown had been arrested at least 14 times in Mecklenburg County over the past decade.

His prior convictions included robbery with a deadly weapon, for which he served a five-year prison term.

In January, Brown was arrested again after allegedly misusing the 911 emergency system.

Police reported that he called and claimed someone had given him man-made material that controlled when he ate, talked, and walked.

A judge ordered a forensic evaluation in that case but ultimately released him on a written promise to appear.

The release raised new questions about how Brown was able to remain free despite repeated encounters with law enforcement.

Local reports indicated his public defender raised concerns over his competency to stand trial as recently as July.

President Donald Trump addressed the case after being briefed by law enforcement.

In a statement posted to TruthSocial, he wrote: “I have seen the horrific video of a beautiful, young Ukrainian refugee, who came to America to escape the vicious War in Ukraine, and was innocently riding the Metro in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she was brutally ambushed by a mentally deranged lunatic. The perpetrator was a well known career criminal, who had been previously arrested and released on CASHLESS BAIL in January, a total of 14 TIMES. What the hell was he doing riding the train, and walking the streets? Criminals like this need to be LOCKED UP.”

The case is now proceeding through both state and federal courts.

Federal prosecutors have not yet confirmed whether they will formally seek the death penalty but said the option remains on the table.

The Justice Department noted that the federal charge underscores the seriousness of crimes committed on public transit and the broader public safety risks involved.

Zarutska’s killing has sparked outrage in Charlotte and beyond, with renewed debate over bail policies, mental health evaluations, and how the justice system handles repeat offenders.

Proceedings in both courts are expected to move forward in the coming weeks.

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