The man accused of fatally stabbing 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light rail train last August has been deemed 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 settled 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 arrived at Scaleybark station, a few miles outside downtown Charlotte. Security footage showed her wearing khaki pants and a dark shirt.
Moments 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 suddenly lunged forward and stabbed Zarutska multiple times.
The Ukrainian refugee clutched her face and throat before collapsing to the floor. Passengers rushed to help, but she died on the train from her injuries as people knelt around her trying to assist. Brown was later apprehended and charged with first-degree murder.
Man accused of killing Ukrainian refugee ruled “incapable to proceed” on murder charges
The fatal stabbing sent shockwaves across the U.S., with even President Donald Trump expressing anger. Now, Decarlos Brown has been ruled “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 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 the court delay proceedings by 180 days, including a hearing to determine whether prosecutors will seek 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.
‘It can take a 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 still not complete, and the timeline has been extended.
WBTV further reported that in North Carolina, restoring someone’s ability to stand trial can take a long time. 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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