The family of Iryna Zarutska has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Charlotte, North Carolina, and its private transit security contractor, Professional Police Services Inc. (PSS), following her murder on August 22, 2025. The lawsuit alleges that the city's light-rail system was inadequately secured, claiming that no security guard was present on the Lynx Blue Line train at the time of the incident.
According to the complaint, PSS was under contract to provide 219 security personnel for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 but had only hired 183 by the time of Zarutska's death. The lawsuit also states that PSS had only 11 armed guards, despite the contract allowing for up to 39.
The complaint further alleges that Zarutska's accused killer, Decarlos Brown Jr., had previously ridden the CATS transportation system without paying, highlighting a lack of fare enforcement and physical barriers that could prevent non-ticketed riders from accessing the light rail. The estate seeks damages exceeding $25,000 and punitive damages against PSS, but not against the city of Charlotte.
Charlotte has stated that it does not comment on active litigation, and PSS has not responded to requests for comment. The attorney representing Zarutska's family emphasized that the family hopes to prevent similar incidents in the future.