“Decarlos Brown Jr., diagnosed with schizophrenia and previously arrested 14 times, murdered Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska aboard Charlotte, North Carolina train
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2025 12:14 pm
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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA — The suspect accused of stabbing a Ukrainian refugee on the lightrail in Charlotte, North Carolina, has a long criminal record dating back to 2011.
Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, was taken into custody Thursday and charged with first-degree murder for killing a 23-year-old woman on August 22. Brown is currently under a 'no bond' order.
Brown has been arrested at least 14 times, on account of felony larceny, robbery with a dangerous weapon, assault, shoplifting and making threats, according to documents reviewed by the New York Post.
WSOC-TV reported that the suspect is homeless, having previously served a five-year sentence for robbery with a deadly weapon in 2014.
Brown was released in September 2020 and was shortly arrested again for assaulting his sister at her home in Charlotte.
In January 2025, Brown got in trouble with the police for making false emergency calls to 911, as well as being on or near Novant Health Property.
He told authorities during a welfare check that he was given a "man-made material" that controlled his basic functions, like eating, walking and talking.
According to an affidavit obtained by WSOC-TV, Brown wanted officials to investigate the "man-made material" in his body. After officers said they couldn't help him, Brown was upset over their response and allegedly called 911, pushing officers to arrest him for misusing 911.
Brown was later released without bond after being charged with misuse of the 911 system.
WSOC-TV reporter Joe Bruno posted to X after speaking with Brown's mother. She said she had Brown evaluated when he started to be more aggressive after his release from his armed robbery charge.
Brown's mother got an involuntary commitment order from the courts, and Brown was later diagnosed with schizophrenia after being placed under psychiatric monitoring. She said that he became homeless after she kicked him out of her home for becoming too aggressive.
Bruno wrote, "Brown's mom says the court should have never let her son be out in the community knowing he had mental health issues and previous arrests."
According to Bruno, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) interacted with Brown three different times in 2024 and referred him to resources. CMPD has not answered Bruno about what those resources are.
Despite his long criminal history, Brown was not serving any sentences at the time of the deadly lightrail attack.
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