Trump Demands Death Penalty for Suspect in Killing of Ukrainian Refugee in U.S.
Former U.S. President Trump has called for the death penalty for the man accused of killing 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte, North Carolina. Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump described the suspect as an “animal” who brutally murdered “a beautiful young girl from Ukraine who came to America seeking peace and safety.” He added that the case should be subject to a “quick” trial and that the only acceptable punishment would be capital punishment.
The incident occurred on August 22 at the East/West Boulevard light rail station in Charlotte’s South End. Surveillance footage released on September 5 showed a man approach Zarutska as she listened to music through headphones, stabbing her three times in the neck. She died at the scene.
Authorities have identified the suspect as 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., a homeless man with multiple prior offenses. He has been taken into custody and is facing charges of first-degree murder.
Zarutska had emigrated to the U.S. after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, seeking safety and a new life. Her death has drawn widespread attention both in the United States and abroad, with many Ukrainian communities expressing outrage and grief.
