Democrat Mayor urged “Media Partners,” others not to repost shocking video of Iryna Zarutska’s death
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Texas Insider Report) — Although the brutal attack occurred on Aug. 22nd of last month, the horrific crime drew little local media attention – and virtually zero national coverage – until the Charlotte Area Transit System released surveillance footage Friday that showed a man sitting behind 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian-born pizza store worker who was innocently riding a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina, when she was attacked and murdered from behind.
The man – a homeless ex-convict with 14 previous arrests – calmly pulled a knife out of his pocket, unfolded it, stood up and stabbed Iryna three times, including at least once in the throat, killing the young Ukrainian refugee.
The story and surveillance video showing the deadly attack has spurred social-media and national uproar over a lack of media coverage, the fact that her killer is an ex-convict with a lengthy arrest record – and the Democrat Mayor of Charlotte's attempt to minimize coverage of Ms. Zarutska's killing.
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, a Democrat, initially called Zarutska’s death a “senseless and tragic loss” – but urged “media partners” and others not to repost the shocking video.
Lyles' statement was condemned for downplaying concerns for the victim, and instead focusing on the attacker’s mental state.
“The video of the heartbreaking attack that took Iryna Zarutska’s life is now public,” said Lyles in a Saturday statement.
“I want to thank our media partners and community members who have chosen not to repost or share the footage out of respect for Iryna’s family,” Lyles said.
Lyles' statement was condemned for downplaying concerns for the victim, and instead focusing on the attacker’s mental state.
“The video of the heartbreaking attack that took Iryna Zarutska’s life is now public,” said Lyles in a Saturday statement.
“I want to thank our media partners and community members who have chosen not to repost or share the footage out of respect for Iryna’s family,” Lyles said.
National outrage exploded, however, as President Trump immediately spoke of the incendent upon learning of it Monday morning, and as Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, was arrested at the scene and charged with first-degree murder for the death.
Brown had previously been arrested 14 times in Mecklenburg County, and had been sentenced in 2015 to six years in prison for robbery with a dangerous weapon, breaking and entering, and larceny, said the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and Charlotte's WCNC-TV.
“This is how victims are erased,” said well-known commentator Ian Miles Cheong on X.
"A young woman is stabbed to death in front of strangers on a train, and the political class rushes not to shine a light, but to pull the curtains closed," wrote Cheong.
"A young woman is stabbed to death in front of strangers on a train, and the political class rushes not to shine a light, but to pull the curtains closed," wrote Cheong.
Russ Ferguson, the U.S. Attorney of the Western District of North Carolina, says that Iryna Zarutska's family has informed the Ukrainian Embassy that they will bury her in the United States, because "she loved America."
Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk slammed national media for its lack of, and inaccurate coverage of the murder, drawing a comparison to that of Daniel Penny, the ex-Marine who was charged in the 2023 death of Jordan Neely after putting him in a chokehold to stop him from threatening subway riders.
“If you want to know why your ratings are in the tank and no one likes you, look no further than the brutal murder of Iryna Zarutska who moved to the US to escape war in Ukraine, a story you refuse to tell.
"Sadly she couldn’t survive the Democrats’ criminal justice system,” Kirk wrote on X.
“You wouldn’t shut up or stop villainizing Daniel Penny, a hero, who probably stopped a murder just like hers. Why? Because he was a straight white American male, and the perp was black,” Kirk said.
"Sadly she couldn’t survive the Democrats’ criminal justice system,” Kirk wrote on X.
“You wouldn’t shut up or stop villainizing Daniel Penny, a hero, who probably stopped a murder just like hers. Why? Because he was a straight white American male, and the perp was black,” Kirk said.
It took approximately two minutes before any of her fellow riders would render aid to Iryna Zarutska
“Ira had recently arrived in the United States, seeking safety from the war and hoping for a new beginning. Tragically, her life was cut short far too soon,” said Iryna’s friend, Evgeniya Rush.
President Trump condemned the “madman,” and warned that such “evil people” pose a threat to the nation’s security.
“I just give my love and hope to the family of the young woman who was stabbed... by a madman, a lunatic,” Trump said before attending a previously scheduled meeting of his administration’s Religious Liberty Commission at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C.
“There are evil people. We have to be able to handle that. If we don’t handle that, we don’t have a country,” Mr. Trump said.
“There are evil people. We have to be able to handle that. If we don’t handle that, we don’t have a country,” Mr. Trump said.
