"Disgusting, senseless, unprovoked": Piers Morgan reacts after chilling video of Decarlos Brown Jr. stabbing Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska surfaces

Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting In New York - Source: Getty
Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting In New York (Image via Getty)

Media personality Piers Morgan has joined an increasing number of high-profile figures demanding answers after a surveillance video surfaced of Iryna Zarutska, 23, being murdered on a light rail commuter train in Charlotte, North Carolina. The murder, allegedly carried out by 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., has sparked a heated debate about crime, media coverage, and public safety.

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The video footage, shared with the public by the Charlotte Area Transit System, shows the final moments of Iryna Zarutska's life on August 22. Wearing her work uniform, she is seen on the train, looking at her phone, unaware of the man behind her.

DeCarlos Brown Jr. is then seen becoming restless, pulling out a folding knife, and lunging toward Iryna to stab her. Although the edited video stops before the stabbing happens, it shows Brown then wandering through the train cars, splattering blood, and calmly removing his bloody hoodie.

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Iryna Zarutska was declared dead at the scene. Police later arrested Decarlos Brown Jr. and charged him with first-degree murder. The police found a knife next to the platform where the suspect exited the train.

Piers Morgan took to X on September 7 to express his outrage, writing,

"Why is the disgusting, senseless, unprovoked murder of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska by a man named Decarlos Brown Jr. on a train in Charlotte NC not getting more media attention?!"
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Iryna Zarutska's case sparks debate on the justice system and public safety

Iryna Zarutska's case has sparked serious discussions about the criminal justice system. Court records show Decarlos Brown Jr. has a criminal history spanning over a decade. He has been arrested at least 14 times for serious offenses, including armed robbery and assault. Despite this record, Brown was on the streets at the time of the attack.

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His apparent mental health issues have also come to light. According to an affidavit cited by the Charlotte Observer, earlier this year, he was arrested for abusing 911 and claiming there was a "man-made" thing in his body that had control over him.

As legal proceedings start against Decarlos Brown Jr., many who knew Zarutska are reflecting on her life and paying tribute to her memory. The pizzeria where she worked released a heartfelt statement, saying she was “not only an incredible employee, but a true friend.”

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"Recently our Zepeddie’s family suffered a tremendous loss. We lost not only an incredible employee, but a true friend. Our dear Iryna left this world far too soon, and our hearts are heavy with grief," they wrote in a statement on Instagram.

A fundraiser for her family has raised tens of thousands of dollars. Decarlos Brown Jr.'s motive remains unknown. The murder of Iryna Zarutska has become a stark symbol, fueling an urgent conversation about safety on public transit and how the justice system handles repeat offenders.

Edited by Diana George
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