Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian artist who sought a fresh start in America, was brutally stabbed to death on a Charlotte light rail train on September 7, 2025, by a homeless man with a criminal past, in a tragedy that has exposed glaring flaws in public safety. Surveillance footage, released days later, captures her desperate final moments, fueling anger over a system that let her attacker roam free. As the FBI vows justice, one question echoes: could Iryna’s vibrant spirit have been spared with better safeguards?

The devastating video shows Zarutska cowering as Decarlos Brown Jr., 35, attacked her with a folding knife, blood pooling on her legs as she fell within 15 seconds. Passengers, stunned, either looked away or scrambled to escape, while a few tried to intervene—one wrapping her wounds with a shirt, another rushing for help. Brown, who shadowed her before striking, was detained at the station. Social media mourns, with one X post stating, “Her terror is gut-wrenching!” A TikTok video, captioned “Iryna deserved better,” reached 12 million views, reflecting global grief.

Zarutska, a Synergy College graduate from Kyiv, was passionate about sculpture, fashion, and animals, aspiring to be a veterinary assistant. At Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, her warmth at Zepeddie’s Pizzeria endeared her to many. Her Instagram, now a tribute, showcases her art. Fans ask: why was her dream cut short? One Reddit post lamented, “She escaped war, only to die like this!” Brown’s 13 prior arrests, including for armed robbery, and his release pending trial have sparked outrage. The FBI’s September 8 federal charge of “death on transit” could mean the death penalty, with Director Kash Patel calling it “savage.” The Justice Department blames “lax policies,” demanding accountability.

Charlotte’s CATS system, with no security checks, faces backlash amid 12 transit crimes in 2024, per NTSB. Social media demands reform, with a TikTok poll, “Are trains safe enough?” showing 90% saying no. Iryna’s death, compared to a 2024 subway incident, raises a question: can public safety keep up with rising violence? As her legacy endures through her art, one X user summed it up: “Iryna’s death is a wake-up call.” Will it drive change, or fade into tragedy?