Iryna Zarutska's 'Killer' Loses It in Court as He Avoids Death Penalty for Refugee Slashing – For Now

THE man accused of fatally stabbing a Ukrainian refugee on a train lashed out in court as he ruled he was unfit to stand trial.

Decarlos Brown Jr., 35, screamed at a judge during a brief hearing on Tuesday and ranted about having “material in his body.”

Decarlos Brown Jr. was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with Zarutska’s killing Credit: WBTV Disturbing surveillance footage showed Decarlos Brown attacking the young woman Credit: Charlotte Area Transit Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, was stabbed to death on a Charlotte light rail train Credit: Reuters

Brown is facing both federal and state charges in connection with the fatal, unprovoked stabbing of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte, North Carolina on August 22, 2025.

Queen City News reported Brown was found unfit to stand trial during the 15-minute hearing, in which he also yelled he was experiencing a “body emergency.”

He demanded the judge review his evaluation and a letter from his mother and also shouted about wanting to press charges against the FBI during the bizarre outburst.

Brown will now receive medication and treatment to try to restore his competency, according to the outlet.

If that fails, he may be held under federal commitment laws and face a future hearing regarding forced medication.

Prosecutors did not present any additional evidence during the hearing but he has not yet escaped trial.

“The court found that his prognosis is ‘good’ to be made competent and set a four-month deadline to have that process go forward,” US Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, Russ Ferguson, said outside court, according to WBTV .

“Our number one goal here is justice for Iryna Zarutska and Iryna Zarutska’s family. That’s what’s on the top of our minds and our hearts every day, and this is a step in that process.

“We have to make sure that we have a case that is airtight on appeal, airtight on post-conviction litigation.

“We have to make sure the defendant has all the due process that the Constitution affords him, and this is one step in that process,” he added.

When asked about his outburst, Ferguson also said it “wasn’t entirely clear when he was yelling out.”

He explained, “We’ve seen since the beginning of this case, he says there’s some sort of material that controls him and I think it was related to that. And that plays a little bit of a role in why he was found not competent to stand trial.”

Horrifying video footage showed Iryna being attacked from behind while she was riding a light rail train home from work.

She was seen wearing casual clothing and a hat as she scrolled on her phone, unaware that a madman was lurking behind her.

The memorial dedicated to slain Iryna Zarutska at the East/West Blvd lightrail station in Charlotte, North Carolina Credit: Getty Iryna Zarutska was heading back from her job at a pizza restaurant on August 22, 2025 Credit: WBTV

Iryna died minutes later on the train, while Brown allegedly fled the scene before being arrested.

Multiple by distressed onlookers in the wake of the brutal attack were made public.

One witness told an emergency services handler, “This man just f***ing stabbed this woman for no reason.”

In another call, released by the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, a witness begged, “Please hurry, she’s bleeding. She’s bleeding a lot.”

A fundraiser for the pizzeria-worker’s family described how she had “recently arrived in the United States, seeking safety from the war and hoping for a new beginning.”

The murder sparked widespread outrage and calls for harsher punishments and a crackdown on repeat criminal offenders.

Brown had been arrested multiple times and was on cashless bail just seven months before he slaughtered Iryna.

Following her death, his family revealed he was , adding to his well-documented history of mental illness.

The shocking transit-line murder sparked a major shake-up of North Carolina’s justice system, with lawmakers passing Iryna’s Law in response.

The sweeping legislation cracked down on violent offenders by tightening bail rules, making it harder for suspects accused of serious crimes to be released before trial.

It also introduced mandatory mental health evaluations for certain defendants with recent histories of psychiatric crises.

The bill was approved by the legislature in September 2025 and signed by Governor Josh Stein on October 3, 2025.

North Carolina’s law now includes provisions aimed at restarting executions and allows for alternative execution methods if lethal injection is unavailable, potentially including a firing squad.

However, Stein said he would refuse the use of firing squads while he’s in office.

His term ends in January 2029.

President Trump previously called for Brown to face the death penalty.

“The ANIMAL who so violently killed the beautiful young lady from Ukraine, who came to America searching for peace and safety, should be given a ‘Quick’ (there is no doubt!) Trial, and only awarded THE DEATH PENALTY,” he wrote on Truth Social.

“There can be no other option!”

Whether Brown could face execution depends on whether prosecutors seek the death penalty and whether he is convicted.