Family of woman killed on light rail will likely file a lawsuit, DA speaks about mental health challenges
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The family of a woman stabbed to death on a Charlotte Light Rail train plans to file a lawsuit. WCCB is also hearing from the Mecklenburg County District Attorney for the first time since the brutal attack.
The family of Iryna Zarutska says the system failed her and they want accountability. The man seen on video stabbing her to death will be evaluated to see if he’s mentally fit to stand trial. The brutal murder is putting public safety and mental health in the spotlight.
“Solutions come in the form of making sure he is behind bars for the rest of his life so that he can hurt no one else,” Lauren Newton, Attorney for Zarutska’s Family said.
Decarlos Brown is facing a first degree murder charge at the state level and a federal charge that could bring the death penalty if convicted.
There are still a lot of questions about why someone with a lengthy criminal history was on the streets. Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Merriweather says mental health resources are limited and often times when people are deemed unfit to stand trial they are ordered to be released back on the streets.
“With more investment, with more institutions and facilities where we can actually make sure that people are getting treated and that our communities are protected by the people who are suffering from illnesses or taken off the streets. So they don’t pose that public safety threat,” DA Merriweather said.
Local GOP leaders are calling out Democrats for system failures within CATS and the courts.
“All of these prior offenders, and again, people with mental disturbance who have demonstrated a propensity for violent crime, they need to be taken out of circulation,” Ed Driggs, republican on Charlotte City Council said.
The DA wants the General Assembly to take a closer look at better funding mental health options in the judicial system.
“Now’s not the time for finger pointing. It’s a time for building partnerships and advancing together. What we’re doing here is trying to make our community healthy and our community safe,” DA Merriweather said.
The attorney for the Zarutska family says they will likely file a lawsuit to keep pushing for accountability.
“We’re looking into all avenues, including all those systems failures that we’ve talked about within our city, within our city transit system, and with these private security companies,” Newton said.
The District Attorney also pointed out that there is a waiting period for mental health evaluations. The lawyer for Zarutska’s family is asking people to show compassion by not sharing the unedited video of the murder. There is now a memorial set up on the East/West Blvd light rail platform to honor Zarutska.
