The man accused of fatally stabbing 23-year-old Ukrainian Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light rail train in August last year has been found incapable of standing trial, according to reports.
Iryna Zarutska fled Ukraine with her mother, sister, and younger brother after Russia invaded their country. She later moved in with her aunt and uncle in Huntersville, North Carolina, in 2022, after spending months in a bomb shelter.
On August 22, 2025, Iryna Zarutska boarded a late-night Blue Line train as it pulled into Scaleybark station, a few miles outside downtown Charlotte. Security cameras captured her wearing khaki pants and a dark shirt.
A few minutes later, a person seated behind her, identified as Decarlos Brown, stood up, reached into a pocket inside his jacket, and pulled out a knife. He then lunged forward and stabbed Zarutska several times.
The Ukrainian refugee clutched her face and throat before collapsing to the ground. Passengers tried to help her, but she died on the train from her injuries as people knelt around her attempting to assist. Brown was later arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
Man accused of killing Ukrainian refugee found “incapable to proceed” on murder charges
The fatal stabbing sent shockwaves across the U.S., with even President Donald Trump expressing outrage. Now, Decarlos Brown has been found “incapable to proceed” on state murder charges.
According to a motion filed on Tuesday, April 7, Decarlos Brown underwent an evaluation at Central Regional Hospital, WBTV reported. A report dated December 29 last year concluded that he is not capable of moving forward with the case, though a judge has yet to decide whether to accept those findings.
Brown’s public defender has requested that the court delay proceedings by 180 days, including a hearing to determine whether prosecutors will pursue the death penalty. Decarlos Brown has been held in federal custody in Chicago since a grand jury indicted him on October 22 on charges of committing violence against a railroad carrier and mass transportation system resulting in death. He is also facing state charges of first-degree murder.
‘Takes long time to restore someone’s ability to stand trial’
He has been ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation as part of his federal case. However, court documents reviewed last month show the evaluation is not yet complete, and the timeframe has been extended.
WBTV further reported that in North Carolina, it can take a long time to restore someone’s ability to stand trial. This is due to a shortage of beds in state psychiatric hospitals, and it is common for individuals to wait a year or more for placement.
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