Former President Donald Trump has called for the death penalty against the man accused of fatally stabbing a Ukrainian refugee on a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina.
In a post on Truth Social Wednesday, Trump referred to the suspect, 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., as an “ANIMAL,” demanding a “quick” trial and insisting he should receive “only THE DEATH PENALTY.”
The victim, 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska, had fled the war in Ukraine before settling in the United States. Prosecutors allege she was killed in an unprovoked knife attack on August 22 while riding public transit. The case has drawn widespread outrage and has been heavily politicized, particularly among conservatives who argue it highlights failures in urban crime prevention.
Federal and State Charges
Brown was charged Tuesday under federal law with committing a fatal act on a mass transportation system—a charge that carries the possibility of capital punishment. He also faces first-degree murder charges in North Carolina state court.
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The Justice Department’s decision to pursue federal charges means Brown could face the death penalty if convicted. Trump and his allies have pointed to the suspect’s prior criminal record as evidence that Democratic-led cities are failing to address repeat offenders.
Political Context
The case has quickly become a rallying point for Trump’s administration, which has been pushing for harsher crime policies in major cities. Last month, Trump vowed to seek the death penalty for all murder cases in Washington, D.C., where his administration recently asserted control over the city’s police department and deployed federal troops.
Despite Trump’s rhetoric, nationwide crime rates have declined in recent years. Still, his team has framed violent incidents in large metropolitan areas as proof that Democratic leadership cannot guarantee public safety.
For Zarutska’s family and the Charlotte community, the focus remains on justice for a young woman whose life was cut short after escaping war abroad, only to face tragedy in the United States.
