CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The man charged with fatally stabbing a Ukrainian refugee on a Charlotte light rail train last year has been found incompetent to stand trial in federal court, prosecutors said Tuesday.
DeCarlos Brown Jr., 35, faces federal charges of committing an act of violence resulting in death on a mass transportation system in connection with the August 2025 death of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska. He also faces state first-degree murder charges in Mecklenburg County Superior Court.
U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell ruled that Brown is incompetent to proceed at this time after a federal evaluation, according to prosecutors. Brown will remain in federal custody and has been committed for treatment for up to four months.
The ruling comes after Brown was previously found incompetent to stand trial on the state charges in April 2026 following an evaluation at Central Regional Hospital. Court records indicated he was deemed "incapable to proceed."
Zarutska, who had fled the war in Ukraine, was stabbed aboard a CATS LYNX Blue Line train in Charlotte's South End on Aug. 22, 2025. Surveillance video captured the attack shortly after she boarded the train. Brown was arrested upon exiting the train.
Brown has a prior criminal history, though specific details about his background were not immediately available in court filings related to the competency proceedings.
"This case is about delivering justice for Iryna Zarutska and her family," U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson for the Western District of North Carolina said in a statement. "We will continue to pursue this case while respecting due process and the court's rulings on competency."
The federal case remains pending, and prosecutors have indicated they expect to seek restoration of Brown's competency. A follow-up hearing is anticipated.
State court proceedings have been delayed pending the federal outcome, with Brown's defense previously requesting continuances. Details on the timeline for any potential restoration efforts or trial dates remain unclear.
The incident drew attention to safety on the city's light rail system and the challenges of addressing mental health issues within the criminal justice system. Brown faces the possibility of the death penalty if convicted on either the state or federal charges.
