WASHINGTON (TNND) — More than an hour into his State of the Union address, President Donald Trump called special attention to Anna Zarutska, the mother of Iryna Zarutska, who was brutally stabbed to death by a mentally–ill career criminal while on board a Charlotte light rail last August.
Zarutska, who sat beside Charlie Kirk’s widow Erika Kirk, grew emotional when Trump introduced her. The president described that Zarutska and “her beautiful daughter” Iryna “fled war-torn Ukraine” in 2022.
He then goes on to explain the circumstances surrounding Iryna’s murder.
“Iryna was riding home on the train when a deranged monster, who had been arrested over a dozen times and was released through no-cash bail, stood up and viciously slashed a knife through her neck and body,” Trump said.
This screengrab made from video provided by the Charlotte Area Transit System shows Iryna Zarutska, bottom right, before she was fatally stabbed on a commuter train on Aug. 22, 2025. (Charlotte Area Transit System via AP)
“No one will ever forget the expression of terror on Iryna’s face as she looked up at her attacker in the last seconds of her life.”
“She had escaped a brutal war only to be slain by a hardened criminal set free to kill in America, ” Trump continued. “Ms. Zarutska, tonight I promise you we will secure justice for your magnificent daughter.”
Authorities apprehended DeCarlos Brown Jr., who is currently facing a federal charge on one count of committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system. If found guilty Brown could face the death penalty.
Iryna’s brutal murder at the hands of Brown sparked national scrutiny over flaws in the criminal justice system as well as how mental illness is addressed in the country.
Prior to allegedly murdering Iryna in cold blood, Brown was out on cashless bail for misuse of the 911 system. He had 14 prior arrests and previously served a five-year sentence for robbery with a deadly weapon. At one point, his mother got him involuntarily committed for his aggressive behavior, and he was later diagnosed with schizophrenia.
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In the wake of Iryna’s death, North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein signed “Iryna’s Law” which puts in place greater restrictions on who can be granted cashless bail and a judge’s authority over the pretrial process.
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