CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - The family of Iryna Zarutska, the 23-year-old refugee stabbed to death on a Charlotte light rail, issued a statement following the release of security footage that showed the Ukrainian woman’s death.
Family responseZarutska was killed on Aug. 22 while riding the Charlotte Area Transportation System’s (CATS) Blue Line light rail.
“We are heartbroken beyond words. Iryna came here to find peace and safety, and instead her life was stolen from her in the most horrific way,” said a family spokesperson in an official release on Wednesday, Sept. 10. “No family should he to go through this.”
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Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, was arrested on Aug. 28 and charged with first-degree murder. During a court appearance, Zarutska’s uncle described her as a “sweet angel.”
Zarutska’s family has requested that the public and media stop sharing footage of her death. Additionally, they called for change.
“This could he been anyone riding the light rail that night,” said the family. “We are committed to making sure this never happens again.”
The family has requested a full investigation into what they called “lapses in security protocols and failures within the public transportation system.
Proposed safety changesCATS came under fire shortly after her death over various safety concerns.
Charlotte Mayor and Metropolitan Transit Commission Chair Vi Lyles called for a special meeting of the MTC on Sept. 3, when CATS interim CEO Brent Cagle and Chief Safety and Security Officer Eric Osnes laid out proposed safety initiatives.
Among those were increased fare enforcement as they did not believe Brown had a ticket the night of the stabbing.
An increase in armed and unarmed security guards and contracted police officers was also discussed.
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Lyles released a letter on Sept. 8 announcing a stronger security presence along Blue Line platforms, bike units, and urban terrain vehicles.
The proposed changes he to be approved by the Metro Transit Commission before they can go into effect. The commission will next meet on Sept. 22.
Nationwide responsePoliticians at the city, state and country levels responded throughout the last few weeks.
Local and state Republicans held a press conference on Sept. 10 to speak about transit safety.
On the same day, Charlotte Councilman Malcolm Graham held a press conference to address safety concerns.
President Donald Trump took to social media that morning to call for the death penalty against Brown. The day before, he issued a video message calling out Brown’s history as someone with a criminal history.
Charges against BrownOn Sept. 9, the Department of Justice and FBI announced they filed a criminal charge against Brown, one count of committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system.
Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, said that more federal charges were possible.
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Decarlos Brown Jr. was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
A judge ordered him to undergo a competency hearing based on prior mental health concerns. Earlier in the year, court filings reported that Brown believed a “man-made” material was controlling when he ate, walked, and talked.
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Weeks before he was accused of killing Zarutska, Brown’s public defender filed a motion questioning Brown’s capacity to proceed with that case.
As of this article’s writing, no motive was given for Zarutska’s killing.
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