America is mourning the tragic loss of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, who came to North Carolina seeking safety from war but was killed in a shocking and senseless attack. On August 22, while boarding a train in Charlotte, she texted her boyfriend that she would be home soon. Those would be her final words. Her sudden death has devastated her family, friends, and the wider community who had embraced her as she built a new life in the United States.
Iryna had fled Ukraine with her family in 2022 after Russia’s invasion. Determined to start over, she balanced working full-time at a pizzeria while attending community college to study English. Friends described her as kind, hardworking, and hopeful for the future. Her boyfriend, Stanislav “Stas” Nikulytsia, expressed his grief online days later by posting a photo of the two of them together accompanied by a broken heart emoji. That simple, raw expression of loss quickly spread across social media, resonating with thousands who shared in his pain.
But grief soon gave way to anger. The accused attacker, Decarlos Brown Jr., had a troubling history, including 14 prior arrests and reports of unstable behavior. Despite this record, he was previously released on cashless bail by Magistrate Judge Teresa Stokes. Stas, along with many others, openly criticized the decision to release Brown, calling it a failure of the justice system that ultimately cost Iryna her life.
Political leaders echoed these concerns. North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore condemned Judge Stokes’s handling of Brown’s case, declaring her unfit for the bench and warning that repeat offenders should not be allowed to slip through the cracks. His statement reflected a growing public outcry demanding judicial reform to ensure that violent or unstable individuals face stricter oversight before being released back into the community.
At the heart of the tragedy lies the love story of Iryna and Stas. Friends say the young couple had been inseparable, filled with dreams of building a future together in Charlotte. That future has now been stolen, replaced by heartbreak and grief. Their story has come to symbolize not only personal loss but also the broader consequences of systemic failures.
As Charlotte and the wider North Carolina community mourn, Iryna’s memory has become a rallying cry. Her life, full of courage and promise, serves as a reminder that those seeking safety and peace in America deserve protection. For many, her death is a call to action — demanding accountability, stronger safeguards, and a justice system that prioritizes both compassion and public safety.
