Zarutska was a refugee after she fled the war in Ukraine with her mother, sister and brother. She was just 23 years old.
Video footage showed Zarutska boarding the CATS Blue Line train wearing headphones as she took a seat in the row in front of Brown, who had his hand over his face. The pair did not interact in any way, as Zarutska proceeded to look at her phone.
Moments after the Ukrainian boarded the train, Brown appeared to remove something from his pocket.
The suspect walked to the other end of the train after Zarutska was stabbed and removed his hoodie.
Passengers then rushed to Zarutska’s aid, but she tragically died a short while after.
Brown was hit with a federal charge of causing death on a mass transportation system on Monday (September 8), which could see him be issued with the death penalty.
He has also been charged with first-degree murder.
Attorney General Pam Bondi is seeking the maximum penalty for Brown. “Iryna Zarutska was a young woman living the American dream – her horrific murder is a direct result of failed soft-on-crime policies that put criminals before innocent people,” she said.
“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.”
After footage was released of the horrible incident, Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles said in a statement: “The video of the heartbreaking attack that took Iryna Zarutska’s life is now public. I want to thank our media partners and community members who have chosen not to repost or share the footage out of respect for Iryna’s family.
“This was a senseless and tragic loss. My prayers remain with her loved ones as they continue to grieve through an unimaginable time. Like so many of you, I’m heartbroken – and I’ve been thinking hard about what safety really looks like in our city. I remain committed to doing all we can to protect our residents and ensure Charlotte is a place where everyone feels safe.”