North Carolina Republican lawmakers are demanding the removal of Magistrate Judge Teresa Stokes after the fatal stabbing of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, Iryna Zarutska, on a Charlotte light rail train. The suspect, Decarlos Brown Jr., had a long criminal history and a documented struggle with mental illness. Critics argue that Judge Stokes’ decision to release him earlier this year directly contributed to the tragedy. Read More
House Speaker Tim Moore called the killing “preventable” and said there must be accountability. He, along with ten other Republican representatives, signed a letter urging formal proceedings against Stokes, accusing her of a “willful and persistent failure” to carry out her duties.
The attack has drawn widespread attention, especially after disturbing surveillance footage surfaced. Zarutska’s family has pleaded with the public and media to respect her memory by not circulating the video of her final moments.
According to police, Zarutska was heading home from work when she boarded the Lynx light rail around 10 p.m. She sat down near Brown, who allegedly waited several minutes before pulling out a folding knife and stabbing her. Brown, who is homeless, was quickly arrested and charged with murder. He also faces federal charges for committing a deadly act on public transit, which carry a potential life sentence or even the death penalty.
Court records show Brown had cycled through the justice system for more than a decade, with 14 prior cases in Mecklenburg County, including a five-year prison term for armed robbery. In January, he was arrested after making repeated 911 calls from a hospital, claiming people were trying to control him. Judge Stokes released him without bail, relying only on his written promise to appear in court. Lawmakers say this decision ignored safer alternatives such as bond or house arrest, despite his violent past and instability.
Brown’s mother told local media that she had tried to have him committed for psychiatric treatment earlier this year after he became violent at home. Doctors diagnosed him with schizophrenia, but he was still released back into the community.
City leaders, including members of Charlotte’s council, have called for expanded mental health resources in the wake of Zarutska’s death. Meanwhile, the White House also weighed in, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt describing the case as “madness” given Brown’s criminal record. She said Zarutska fled Ukraine hoping for safety and opportunity in America, only to encounter more danger on U.S. public transit than she faced in a war zone.
