Family members of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska say security lapses on Charlotte’s Lynx Blue Line contributed to her fatal stabbing and are demanding reforms.
The family of Iryna Zarutska — the 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee who was fatally stabbed aboard a Charlotte light rail train — has spoken out publicly, describing her death as “the most horrific way” a life could be taken.
In a statement provided to PEOPLE through their attorney, the grieving family said, “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. No family should have to go through this.”
Alongside their expression of grief, the family is also calling for a thorough investigation into what they describe as critical failures in public transit security. They cited lapses in security protocols and oversight, including the absence of a visible or effective security presence on the Lynx Blue Line, insufficient oversight of the contract between the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) and Professional Security Services (PSS), and the lack of adequate safety measures they believe might have prevented the tragedy.
The family is also urging the public and the media to “respect Iryna’s dignity and [their] grief” by refraining from reposting or circulating the graphic footage of her death.
According to her loved ones, Zarutska had been working hard to build a new life in Charlotte. She was employed full-time at a local pizzeria while also attending community college classes to strengthen her English skills.
On the evening of August 22, she texted her boyfriend to let him know she would be home soon. When she failed to arrive, her family and loved ones grew concerned. After checking her phone’s location, they discovered it was still at a train station. When they went there, they learned the devastating news: Iryna had been pronounced dead at the scene, the family’s statement explained.
Authorities report that Zarutska was attacked while riding the Blue Line. Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, was later taken into custody and charged in federal court with one count of committing an act resulting in death on a mass transportation system, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina. The charge carries the possibility of the death penalty.
Local outlets WSOC-TV, WCNC and WFAE report that Brown was initially charged at the state level with first-degree murder following his arrest by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police. According to WSOC-TV, PBS NewsHour and WFAE, Brown has been diagnosed with schizophrenia.
“This could have been anyone riding the light rail that night,” Zarutska’s family said in their statement. “We are committed to making sure this never happens again.”
