President Trump on Wednesday thundered that the death penalty is the only just punishment for Decarlos Brown Jr., the man accused of fatally stabbing 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska as she rode a Charlotte commuter train.
“The ANIMAL who so violently killed the beautiful young lady from Ukraine, who came to America searching for peace and safety, should be given a ‘Quick’ (there is no doubt!) Trial, and only awarded THE DEATH PENALTY,” Trump declared on Truth Social. “There can be no other option!!!”
The brutality was captured on surveillance footage: Zarutska, fresh from a new life in America, ambushed with a pocket knife on the Lynx Blue Line. A journey home turned into her final ride — the hope of safety cut down in an instant.
Brown, 34, now faces both federal and state murder charges.
Attorney General Pam Bondi vowed to pursue the harshest penalty the law allows. “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,” Bondi said.
“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.”
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
Bondi also told Fox News’ Sean Hannity that the DOJ won’t let a progressive DA handle the case.
“We are going to prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law,” Bondi said. “Progressive DAs cannot handle this case. The progressive DA in Charlotte is Spencer Merriweather. He believed in letting (accused murderer Decarlos Brown Jr.) sign a written promise to appear. He participated in passing that — agreeing to let criminal defendants sign a written promise to appear in court.”
“Weeks later, [Decarlos Brown Jr.] murdered Iryna.”
