Charlotte stabbing victim Iryna Zarutska’s father forced to miss her funeral in US due to war in Ukraine

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA: The funeral of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, who was fatally stabbed on a Charlotte light rail train, was marked by the painful absence of her father.

Bound by wartime rules in Ukraine that prevent men of fighting age from leaving the country, he was unable to travel to North Carolina to say goodbye to his daughter.

Family had to mourn Iryna Zarutska's death without her father present

“She was laid to rest on August 27 in Charlotte, but her father had to remain in Ukraine because of the war,” a neighbor said. “He didn’t come for the funeral. He had to stay back.”

Zarutska had moved to the US with her mother, brother, and sister to escape Russia’s invasion, only to fall victim to an unprovoked attack on August 22.

Surveillance footage released by the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) showed her entering the Lynx Blue Line train around 9.45 p.m., dressed in her work uniform and scrolling on her phone, when a man in a red hoodie was seen sitting behind her.

Violent history of suspect Decarlos Brown

Surveillance footage showed Decarlos Brown, 34, stabbing Iryna Zarutska in the neck. Brown is a repeat offender with at least 14 prior arrests.

His record includes a 2014 armed robbery that led to a five-year prison term, a 2020 arrest for assaulting his sister, and a January 2024 charge for misusing the 911 system. He was released without bail on a written promise to appear in court.

Iryna Zarutska remembered as kind, creative, and loved

Iryna Zarutska’s murder devastated her family and community. Friends recalled her as a warm presence who often helped care for neighborhood pets.

“She was sweet. The whole neighborhood loved her,” one friend said. Her obituary highlighted her artistic talent and dream of becoming a veterinary assistant.

“She shared her creativity generously, gifting family and friends with her artwork. She loved sculpting and designing unique, eclectic clothing that reflected her vibrant spirit,” the obituary read. “She will be remembered for her kindness, her creativity, and the lasting impression she left on everyone she met. Her absence leaves a deep void, but her spirit will forever remain in the hearts of those who loved her.”

Trump denounces brutal attack

President Donald Trump on Monday, September 8, denounced the brutal killing of Iryna Zarutska, describing the stabbing as “horrific” and preventable.

Speaking after watching security footage of the August 22 attack, Trump said the suspect, identified as 34-year-old Brown, should never have been free, given his lengthy history of arrests and convictions.

“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," Trump said in a statement shared on the White House X account.

"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," he added. 

Earlier that day, during an address at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, Trump raised Zarutska’s killing while discussing the need to confront “evil.” He told the audience, “We’re all people of religion, but there are evil people. And we have to confront that.”

“So they're evil people,” Trump said, adding, “We have to be able to handle that. If we don't handle that, we don't have a country.”