The family of Iryna Zarutska has released a statement for the first time since their loved one was brutally killed on a North Carolina light rail train, demanding justice and sweeping public safety reforms.

In a statement shared through their attorney, the family described her as a “kind and hardworking young woman, deeply loved by her family and friends.”

The family said they are devastated by her sudden loss and want the man accused of killing the 23-year-old to remain behind bars.

Iryna Zarutska, 23, was killed when taking a train in Charlotte, N.C., on Aug. 22, 2025. (@lucaveros225/Instagram; WBTV;  Evgeniya Rush/GoFundMe)

The Zarutska family kept their statement focused on transit security, calling for a full investigation into potential lapses in safety protocols and failures within the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS).

They said her murder highlights a systemic breakdown in transit security and pointed to a lack of visible or effective security on the Blue Line, failures of oversight in the contract between CATS and its private security provider, and the absence of safety measures that they said could have prevented the attack.

The Zarutska family called on Charlotte city officials to publicly address transit security failures and enact reforms. They also want advocates and allies to join them in demanding justice and long-term change.

Zarutska had fled war for safety and opportunity in the United States and had been building a new life in Charlotte — working at a pizzeria and studying English at community college. (GoFundMe)

Zarutska had fled war for safety and opportunity in the United States and had been building a new life in Charlotte — working at a pizzeria and studying English at community college.

“That night, she texted her boyfriend that she would be home soon,” the statement reads. 

“Tragically, her journey ended in violence near the Camden light rail station. Her loved ones became alarmed when she did not arrive to her apartment at the anticipated time and her phone’s location alerted them that she was still at the station. Upon arriving at the station, they were devastated to learn that Iryna had died at the scene.”

The family also urged the public and media to respect Zarutska’s dignity and their grief by not reposting or circulating the footage of her killing.