Iryna Zarutska, 23, who had emigrated from Kiev to escape the brutal war in Ukraine, was stabbed to death during a train ride in Charlotte, North Carolina, on August 22.
The suspected shooter, Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, was arrested on August 28 and is facing charges of first-degree murder, as well as federal charges of "act causing death on a mass transportation system," with the possibility of the death penalty.
The horrific incident has shocked the local community and US authorities have called the attack an act of “terrorist”. Officials said Brown has a criminal record and has committed other violent crimes before. He was arrested in 2014 for armed robbery and possession of a weapon by a convicted person, serving a little over five years in prison.
According to witnesses, Brown did not know Iryna and during the attack, he pulled a knife from his pocket, paused for a moment and then stabbed the girl three times in the neck out of nowhere. The victim collapsed immediately and was pronounced dead at the scene. A witness identified the attacker and helped authorities track his location.
Iryna had come to the US with her mother, sister and brother to start a new life away from the war and had quickly embraced life in America. Her family has decided that she will be laid to rest on American soil, as the love for her new country had become a part of her.
US Attorney Russ Ferguson said "this brutal attack on an innocent woman is an attack on the American way of life. Iryna deserves justice and we will bring it to her and her family."
Assistant Attorney General Pamela Bondi added that Brown will be prosecuted federally because of his violent history and that the maximum sentence is being sought. FBI Director Kash Patel called the incident “a shameful act that should never happen in America” and stressed that the attacker should never be released from prison to kill again.
The case has also shocked the city of Charlotte, where authorities have increased security measures at train stations, while Brown's trial is expected to begin on September 19.
Sources: People, AP
