Iryna Zarutska: 911 calls released in deadly Charlotte light rail stabbing
Share and Follow


Newly released 911 calls detail the chaotic moments after Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska was stabbed to death on a light rail train in Charlotte.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Officials have released 911 calls and security video after a stabbing left a 23-year-old woman dead in August on the LYNX Blue Line light rail.

The calls reveal the chaotic moments after the stabbing. Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee, was killed in the stabbing. Decarlos Brown is charged with murder in the case.

Some of the callers were on the train when the stabbing happened, while others were at the scene after the stabbing.

“He just stabbed her for no reason,” one caller said. 

Callers said people surrounded Zarutska after the stabbing and attempted to assist her before medical personnel arrived. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Brown left the train after the stabbing. Callers described what he was wearing to dispatchers and said the direction he walked.

Newly released security video shows people frantically exiting the train searching for help from police or emergency responders. 

Brown is seen walking around the platform with a hoodie wrapped around his hand — he suffered a laceration in the stabbing and was hospitalized for days after the incident. 

Police later arrested Brown on the platform.

CATS also released security video before the stabbing, which shows Brown waiting on the platform for the train to arrive. He sits on a bench for over 10 minutes before boarding. 

The stabbing gained national attention after CATS released surveillance video of the stabbing. The video shows Brown stabbing Zarutska multiple times in the neck while she sat wearing earbuds and looking at her phone. She had recently fled Ukraine seeking safety from war, according to family friends.

Brown has 14 previous court cases in Mecklenburg County and was sentenced to six years in prison in 2015 for robbery with a dangerous weapon, breaking and entering, and larceny. His attorney has filed a motion for a competency evaluation. Before the August stabbing, Brown was charged with misuse of the 911 system in January, a misdemeanor.

President Donald Trump spoke about the case earlier this month, prompting a whirlwind of reactions in North Carolina and across the country. Brown was subsequently given a federal charge for committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system.

The case has left many residents concerned about Charlotte’s transit safety. Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles responded by pledging additional security personnel on the Blue Line. While the change was implemented immediately, many riders have not seen an added security presence.

In a statement, Zarutska’s family called her death “tragic and preventable,” and said she was just minutes away from home. She was working full-time at a Charlotte pizzeria while simultaneously attending community college in an effort to improve her English. 

The North Carolina General Assembly passed “Iryna’s Law” in September to target cashless bail for certain offenders and expedite death penalty appeals.

The state’s auditor released a report on CATS on Monday, finding a 40% drop in armed security personnel in the years before the stabbing.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Simone Biles does split with a bottle of tequila after private jet trip for Bears' Black Friday game

Simone Biles Celebrates in Style with Tequila Toast After Private Jet Ride to Bears’ Game

Simone Biles touched down in Philadelphia on Thanksgiving, arriving via private jet…
Is ‘Stranger Things’ Based On A True Story?

Unveiling the Truth: Is ‘Stranger Things’ Inspired by Real-Life Events?

Netflix’s most popular series has made its much-anticipated return. After a three-year…
Airbus issues emergency warning for 6,000 passenger jets

Urgent Safety Alert: Airbus Warns 6,000 Passenger Jets to Ground for Immediate Checks

Airbus, a leading global aircraft manufacturer, has issued a significant warning that…
Trump 'made bombshell assassination claim while being secretly taped'

Unveiled: Secret Recording Reveals Trump’s Shocking Assassination Allegation

Olivia Nuzzi’s former partner has accused her of employing a sketch artist…
Multiple victims with gunshot wounds at Valley Fair Mall in California on Black Friday: police

Black Friday Chaos: Gunfire Erupts at Valley Fair Mall in California, Multiple Injured

A shooting incident at Westfield Valley Fair Mall in San Jose, California,…
Trump 'set to recognise Russian control over Crimea'

Trump Poised to Acknowledge Russian Sovereignty in Crimea: Reports

Reports suggest that Donald Trump is gearing up to acknowledge Russia’s control…
Americans are finally realizing why we don't eat turkey eggs

Discover Why Turkey Eggs Aren’t a Staple on the American Table

As families gather around to enjoy their Thanksgiving feasts, a curious question…
NY Jets cornerback Kris Boyd says he's back in the hospital after NYC shooting

NY Jets’ Kris Boyd Hospitalized Following NYC Shooting Incident: Latest Health Update

NEW YORK CITY — In a concerning turn of events, New York…