NC Gov. Josh Stein praises Charlotte light rail stabbing victim, will meet her family

Chase Jordan, The Charlotte Observer on Sep 18, 2025

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein said Thursday he plans to meet later in the day with the family of Charlotte light rail stabbing victim Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee whose murder captured national attention.

Stein made his remarks at a news conference during a visit to The Pearl, the $1.5 billion mixed-use health care, science and medical education complex, for the NCBiotech Summit.

“By all accounts, she was a ray of light,” Stein said while expressing condolences. “She loved animals and art. She had tons of friends.”

Zarutska, 23, was killed occurred just before 10 p.m. on Aug. 22, when another light rail passenger stabbed her several times. She was found dead on the Lynx Blue Line light rail at 1821 Camden Road. DeCarlos Brown Jr., 34, is charged with first-degree murder of Zarutska, and remains in Mecklenburg County jail after being denied bond.

Zarutska came to the U.S. fleeing the war her country faces after Russia’s invasion. Stein said she came to America, learned English and found work.

“She was making her life here and had such a bright future ahead of her until it was tragically, brutally taken from her,” Stein said. “No parent, no brother or sister, no one should have to experience that kind of trauma.”

The murder at the South End light rail station shot into the national consciousness — and the political arena — after the Charlotte Area Transit System released video and images of the gruesome attack.

“Iryana’s murder brings up real concerns for people all over North Carolina about the safety of our communities,” the governor said. “We can and must do more to make sure that we are protecting the people of North Carolina.”

Stein added that he had urged Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles last week to surge law enforcement across the public transit system, and was grateful that she had taken that step.

“It’s a good start,” Stein added. “And we have to keep it up.”