\n<\/p>\n
DeCarlos Brown Jr., the man accused of fatally stabbing Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska in North Carolina, has been deemed mentally incapable of proceeding to trial in the state murder case.<\/p>\n
Brown was evaluated at Central Regional Hospital, and a December 29, 2025, report found him \u201cincapable to proceed,\u201d according to court documents.<\/p>\n
On August 22, 2025, Zarutska, 23, was riding the LYNX Blue Line in Charlotte, looking at her phone, when Brown allegedly jumped from his seat, wielding a knife and slashing her multiple times in the neck.<\/p>\n
The case sparked international outrage over the blue city\u2019s public safety policies and Brown\u2019s lengthy rap sheet, which includes\u00a014 previous arrests for offenses such as armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon, The Daily Wire previously reported<\/a>. He served five years for the armed robbery but avoided jail time in several other cases.<\/p>\n Two months after the killing, Democratic Gov. Josh Stein signed \u201cIryna\u2019s Law,\u201d legislation passed by the Republican-led legislature overhauling aspects of the state\u2019s criminal justice system. The law eliminated certain forms of cash-free bail and imposed stricter pretrial release requirements for violent offenses.<\/p>\n Brown\u2019s public defender, attorney Daniel Roberts, asked the court to delay his Rule 24 hearing to determine whether state prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty.<\/p>\n Brown also faces a federal charge<\/a> alleging he committed an act of violence resulting in death on a mass transportation system.<\/p>\n In September 2025, President Trump called for Brown to face the death penalty.<\/p>\n \u201cThe ANIMAL who so violently killed the beautiful young lady from Ukraine, who came to America searching for peace and safety, should be given a \u201cQuick\u201d (there is no doubt!) Trial, and only awarded THE DEATH PENALTY. There can be no other option!!! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP,\u201d\u00a0Trump said.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Late last year, murals honoring Iryna started popping up nationwide. Elon Musk<\/a> pledged to donate $1 million to the project.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n