Suspect in Charlotte train stabbing deemed incompetent to stand trial

Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, has been ruled incompetent to stand trial in his federal case regarding the fatal stabbing of Iryna Zarutska, 23, on a North Carolina light-rail train on August 22, 2025. Following a mental evaluation, Brown is expected to be committed to a facility for treatment aimed at restoring his competency. If found competent in the future, the federal case may resume, and he could face the death penalty. Brown was federally indicted for committing an act of violence against a railroad carrier resulting in death. This ruling follows a previous evaluation on May 7, which also deemed him incompetent to stand trial for state charges. Surveillance footage reportedly shows Brown stabbing Zarutska three times before leaving the train.