Iryna Zarutska's killer DeCarlos Brown Jr., found 'mentally incompetent to stand trial'

DeCarlos Brown Jr. has been ruled mentally incompetent to stand trial on the state murder charge in the killing of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska.

Brown, 34, is accused of fatally stabbing Zarutska aboard a Charlotte light rail train in August 2025.

Surveillance video captured him approaching the young woman from behind and stabbing her multiple times as she sat in her seat. The unprovoked attack drew national attention after the disturbing footage was released.

Zarutska had fled the war in Ukraine seeking safety and a new life in the United States when she was killed.

Brown was evaluated at a state psychiatric hospital in December and determined incapable of proceeding with his defense in the state case. His attorney requested a 180-day delay in the scheduled competency hearing, and prosecutors did not object.

If a judge formally declares Brown incompetent, the state murder case will likely be paused or dismissed. The charges could be reinstated later if he is restored to competency. Restoring competency can take many months or longer due to limited space in psychiatric facilities.

Brown still faces a separate federal charge of committing an act of violence on a mass transportation system resulting in death. That charge carries a potential life sentence or the death penalty.

The incompetence ruling applies only to the state murder charge and has no effect on the federal prosecution.