A beautiful young Ukrainian refugee who escaped the horrors of war was brutally murdered by a career criminal on a Charlotte train last month. Iryna Zarutska, just 23 years old, was stabbed to death by Decarlos Brown Jr. while riding home from her job at a pizza restaurant. This innocent woman fled Ukraine to find safety in America, only to be killed by a savage with 14 prior arrests who should have been locked up long ago.
The shocking surveillance video shows Brown pulling out a knife and stabbing Zarutska from behind without any provocation. She was just sitting on the train in her work uniform, living the American dream and working hard to build a new life. Instead of finding the safety she sought, she found a criminal justice system that failed her completely. Brown was walking free despite his long history of violence when he should have been behind bars.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi got it exactly right when she blamed this murder on failed soft-on-crime policies that put criminals before innocent people. For too long, liberal politicians have coddled repeat offenders and let dangerous criminals walk our streets. These weak policies have real consequences, and Iryna paid the ultimate price for liberal America’s refusal to lock up violent criminals.
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles is now scrambling to increase security on trains after this preventable tragedy. But where was this concern for public safety before an innocent woman was murdered? City leaders failed in their most basic duty to protect law-abiding citizens from known criminals.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy slammed Charlotte officials for their failure to protect Zarutska. He said mayors who cannot keep their trains safe do not deserve taxpayer money. This is the kind of tough leadership we need from the Trump administration.
The cruel irony is heartbreaking – Zarutska survived bombs and war in Ukraine only to be killed by American street crime. She was living in a bomb shelter before coming here seeking a better life. Our cities have become more dangerous than active war zones, and that is completely unacceptable.
Brown now faces federal charges and prosecutors are seeking the maximum penalty. Attorney General Bondi promised he will never see freedom again, which is exactly what needs to happen to violent repeat offenders. We must stop treating criminals like victims and start protecting innocent Americans.
Zarutska will be buried in America because, as her family said, she loved this country. We owe it to her memory and to every hardworking American to demand law and order in our cities. Enough is enough – it is time to put criminals in prison where they belong before they destroy more innocent lives.
