DOJ Brings Federal Charges After Brutal Killing of Ukrainian Refugee in Charlotte: Another Life Lost to America’s Criminal Crisis

September 9, 2025 – Washington, D.C. : A young woman who came to America seeking freedom and safety instead found herself the victim of this country’s broken justice system. Twenty-three-year-old Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee, was brutally stabbed to death last month on a Charlotte light-rail train by DaCarlos Brown Jr.—a career criminal who should have been behind bars long ago.

On Tuesday, the Department of Justice, under President Donald J. Trump’s administration, brought the hammer down. Brown now faces federal charges for committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system—on top of the local murder charges already filed.

Attorney General Pam Bondi made it clear: “We will seek the maximum penalty for this unforgivable act of violence—he will never again see the light of day as a free man.”

FBI Director Kash Patel echoed the outrage: “This was a disgraceful act that should never happen in America. These charges are the first step toward delivering justice for Iryna and her family—and for millions of Americans who deserve to live free from violent predators.”

Brown is no stranger to law enforcement. With a long and violent rap sheet, he is a prime example of what happens when soft-on-crime prosecutors, activist judges, and weak city leaders let dangerous offenders roam the streets.

Charlotte officials last week released disturbing footage showing Zarutska sitting quietly before Brown pulled a knife and lunged at her head. The clip ends before the fatal strike, but the horror speaks for itself.

This federal intervention is more than just about one case—it’s about sending a message. Under President Trump’s “Law and Order” administration, violent criminals will not be coddled. They will face the full weight of American justice.

Iryna fled war-torn Ukraine only to be cut down in an American city where criminal chaos has become normalized. Her murder is a stain on the radical “criminal justice reform” policies pushed by the left.

The Trump Administration is restoring safety. From cracking down on gangs and cartels to holding violent offenders accountable, the DOJ’s actions show that America is no longer tolerating excuses for criminal predators.

Zarutska’s blood cries out for justice. And this time, under Trump, justice will be done.