DOJ could search loss of life penalty for Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska’s killer, says Bondi

Following President Donald Trump’s name for swift motion, U.S. Legal professional Common Pam Bondi shared that the Justice Division could search the loss of life penalty for Iryna Zarutska’s killer.

Talking with reporters on Wednesday, Bondi shared that Zarutska’s alleged assassin, Decarlos Brown Jr., has been arrested and that he’s being charged federally.

“We have now arrested him. We’re charging him federally as a result of it was a homicide on mass transit,” mentioned Bondi.

“This younger lady died a horrific, horrific loss of life, as all of us noticed, captured on video,” she went on, including, “It was horrible.”

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“The steps are, we cost, then we indict. Then, legally, we make the choice whether or not or to not search the loss of life penalty. That’s actually on the desk as soon as he’s indicted for this horrific crime,” defined Bondi.

Zarutska, a 23-year-old refugee from Ukraine, was stabbed to loss of life whereas driving a light-weight rail prepare in Charlotte, North Carolina. The stabbing, captured on video, passed off on Aug. 22 at round 10:30 p.m. as Zarutska was on her approach dwelling from work at a pizza restaurant. Nonetheless in her uniform, Zarutska sat down in entrance of a person, later recognized as Brown, carrying a purple hoodie. Moments later, the person pulled out a knife and stabbed her to loss of life, with a number of bystanders trying on.  

Brown, 34, was arrested shortly after the incident and hospitalized earlier than being charged with first-degree homicide. Police confirmed that Brown and Zarutska didn’t know each other.

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Iryna Zarutska cowers as her attacker towers over her. (NewsNation through Charlotte Space Transit System)

Courtroom information, beforehand reported by Fox Information Digital, present Brown has a historical past of arrests relationship again to 2011, together with prices of felony larceny, theft with a harmful weapon and speaking threats. Most prices have been later dropped.

On Tuesday, Trump known as for the federal government to reply to the spate of killings within the U.S. with decisive motion, saying, “We have now to be vicious similar to they’re.”

He blamed Democratic leaders in main American cities for adopting “catch and launch” insurance policies “for thugs and killers.”

“In Charlotte, North Carolina, we noticed the outcomes of those insurance policies when a 23-year-old lady who got here right here from Ukraine met her bloody finish on a public prepare,” mentioned the president. “She was slaughtered by a deranged monster who was roaming free after 14 prior arrests.”

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White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks concerning the deadly stabbing of a Ukrainian lady, Iryna Zarutska, aboard a North Carolina prepare throughout a press briefing on the White Home in Washington, D.C., Sept. 9, 2025. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)

“We can’t enable a wicked prison component of violent repeat offenders to proceed spreading destruction and loss of life all through our nation. We have now to reply with drive and energy,” mentioned Trump.

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In a Reality Social put up, Trump wrote, “The ANIMAL who so violently killed the attractive younger girl from Ukraine, who got here to America looking for peace and security, needs to be given a ‘Fast’ (there isn’t a doubt!) Trial, and solely awarded THE DEATH PENALTY. There will be no different choice!”

Fox Information Digital’s Emma Bussey contributed to this report.