() North Carolina lawmakers are calling for the removal of a judge who released a man accused of fatally attacking 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light rail train, even though the suspect had a long criminal record and a history of mental illness. 

One of the lawmakers, Republican Rep. Tim Moore, called the killing in his home state “preventable,” on X. “There must be accountability. North Carolinians deserve better,” he added.

Moore is joined by 10 House Republicans from the state who signed a letter requesting formal proceedings to remove Magistrate Judge Teresa Stokes.

The lawmakers said Stokes’ “reckless” decision to release Decarlos Brown Jr. accounted for “willful and persistent failure” to perform her duties. 

Iryna Zarutska fatally stabbed on Charlotte Light Rail

Last month, Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee who came to the United States following the Russian invasion of her country, was fatally stabbed on her way home from work close to 10 p.m., according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

Surveillance video released by Charlotte Area Transit shows Zarutska boarding a light rail Lynx car and sitting down in front of a man investigators believe was Brown. 

After nearly five minutes, the video allegedly shows Brown pulling out a folding knife and attacking her.

Brown, who police say is homeless and has a criminal record, was arrested and charged with Zarutska’s murder.

He is also facing federal charges of one count of committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system.

If convicted under the federal charge, Brown faces a maximum statutory sentence of life in prison or death.

Decarlos Brown Jr.’s lengthy criminal record

Brown was arrested in January after repeatedly calling 911 from a hospital, claiming people were trying to control him. He was released without bail by Stokes.

North Carolina lawmakers said in the letter that Stokes authorized Brown’s release at that time “based solely on his ‘written promise’ to appear for a future court date.”

Court records showed that Stokes allowed Brown’s release under the condition of “written promise,” which was one of several options the court could have utilized. Other release options on the court form included under bond or house arrest.

“Yet despite this history of violent and unstable behavior, Magistrate Stokes released Brown without requiring bond or imposing any meaningful conditions to safeguard the public,” the lawmakers’ letter read.

Court records show he had cycled through the criminal justice system for more than a decade, with 14 prior cases in Mecklenburg County, including serving five years for robbery with a dangerous weapon. His mother told local television she sought an involuntary psychiatric commitment earlier this year after he became violent at home. Doctors diagnosed him with schizophrenia.

The North Carolina lawmakers’ letter called Zarutska’s killing “the direct result of a failure of judicial responsibility.”

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt discussed the attack during a press briefing on Tuesday, calling it “madness” due to Brown’s criminal history. 

Leavitt had mentioned the attack on Monday as well saying “this beautiful, innocent young woman had fled her country for a chance at a safer life and a promising new beginning in the United States.”

“But tragically, the public transportation system in a major American city was more dangerous than the war zone she left behind,” she said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.