The tragic incident involving a Ukrainian refugee could have been avoided, according to the brother of Decarlos Brown Jr.
Brown stands accused of the gruesome murder of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska on a train in North Carolina, which took place on August 22.
Surveillance footage captures a man, allegedly Brown, already seated on the train when Zarutska boarded.
Zarutska chose a seat in front of Brown, who initially seemed indifferent to her presence. However, the situation quickly escalated as he retrieved a knife from his pocket. He then used it to repeatedly stab Zarutska, resulting in her death.
Following this unprovoked attack, Brown has been charged with first-degree murder and faces additional federal charges.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced they would pursue the death penalty for Brown to ensure “he will never again see the light of day as a free man” if convicted, as reported by BBC News.
On September 9, federal authorities charged Brown with causing death on a mass transportation system.
Following Brown’s identification as the primary suspect, his half-brother Jeremiah, who shares the same father, has spoken publicly.
Jeremiah revealed to the New York Post that, although Brown has schizophrenia and a history of violent arrests, he was unaware of his mental health issues.
“He could do it again,” Jeremiah commented on his brother’s alleged actions. “They should still treat him for his mental issues but there are consequences for his actions.”
He further stated that Brown should face repercussions.
Jeremiah also expressed that Zarutska’s death might have been averted.
According to The Telegraph, Brown was arrested in January for ‘misuse of the 911 system.’
During this incident, he had called 911, and when officers arrived for a welfare check, he allegedly claimed there were ‘man-made’ materials inside him controlling his actions.
Brown’s dissatisfaction with the police response led him to call 911 again while they were still present, resulting in charges against him.
However, instead of being detained, Brown was released the same day on a ‘written promise’ to appear in court later.
The White House has criticized this decision, stating it enabled Brown to later commit a violent act, an opinion that Jeremiah shares.
“I think they could have pretty much prevented it then,” Jeremiah reflected on his brother’s earlier release.
If you or someone you know is in distress or crisis, assistance is available through Mental Health America. You can call or text 988 for a 24-hour crisis center or visit 988lifeline.org for webchat support. Additionally, the Crisis Text Line is accessible by texting MHA to 741741.