Justice Coming: Pam Bondi Announces Federal Charges Against Suspect in Fatal Charlotte Stabbing

Earlier, we reported on how the Trump administration was dropping the hammer on Charlotte, North Carolina, in the aftermath of the brutal murder of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on the Democrat-run city's light rail system on August 22nd.

Among the announcements of investigations by both the FBI and the Department of Transportation, we also learned that the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, Russ Ferguson, was hinting at possible federal charges against the suspect, 34-year-old homeless man and repeat offender Decarlos Brown Jr.

"The stabbing on the Charlotte light rail was a tragedy, and we are looking at every way the federal government can bring justice to Iryna Zarutska and her loved ones," Ferguson noted in a statement, while vowing to help restore confidence in the public transit system.

In an update to this story, DOJ Attorney General Pam Bondi has announced her department will be moving forward with federal charges against Brown:

Iryna Zarutska was a young woman living the American dream — her horrific murder is a direct result of failed soft-on-crime policies that put criminals before innocent people.

I have directed my attorneys to federally prosecute DeCarlos Brown Jr., a repeat violent offender with…
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) September 9, 2025

I have directed my attorneys to federally prosecute DeCarlos Brown Jr., a repeat violent offender with a history of violent crime, for murder. We will seek the maximum penalty for this unforgivable crime, and he will never again see the light of day as a free man.

According to the DOJ's press release, Brown has been "charged with one count of committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system."

“This brutal attack on an innocent woman simply trying to get to her destination is an attack on the American way of life,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “Of course, crimes like this affect the victim the most—Iryna deserves justice, and we will bring justice to her and her family. But crimes like this also affect everyone who relies on mass transportation to get to and from work and go about their daily lives, and federal charges are necessary to protect the public and ensure confidence in our transportation systems.”
If convicted, Brown faces a maximum statutory sentence of life in prison or death. Ultimately, his sentence will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI is investigating the case with the assistance of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Odulio of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.

The criminal complaint, which can be read here, includes more details regarding what the responding officers found that night, including what Zarutska, who was deceased, looked like. It's disturbing, and I've opted not to include that information here out of respect for the family.

FBI Director Kash Patel was also quoted in the DOJ press release as saying, "I want to thank Attorney General Bondi for her pursuit of today’s federal charges, which are the first step toward delivering justice for Iryna and her family," which is a clue that more accountability will likely be coming in the weeks and months ahead in this case.

Stay tuned.

Editor's Note: President Trump isn't going to allow lawlessness to reign in America. We will not have a repeat of 2020's "Summer of Love."

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