Charlotte Light Rail Stabbing Suspect Deemed Incompetent For Trial
On August 22 of 2025, 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr. stabbed 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska aboard the light-rail Lynx Blue Line in Charlotte.
The man accused of killing a woman on a North Carolina light-rail train has been deemed incompetent to stand trial.
On August 22 of 2025, 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr. stabbed 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska aboard the light-rail Lynx Blue Line in Charlotte.
Brown was federally indicted on a charge of committing an act of violence against a railroad carrier and mass transportation system resulting in death.
Following a lengthy process that included mental evaluation, interviews and a review of medical records, a hearing was held Tuesday. It lasted around 15 minutes and Brown had a few outbursts and was deemed incompetent to stand trial in the federal case.
Brown is expected to be committed to a special facility for treatment aimed at restoring competency. If he is later found competent, the federal case could resume. If it proceeds, Brown could face the death penalty.
