A Ukrainian refugee who was fatally stabbed aboard the light rail train in Charlotte, N.C. She had survived bombings in her native country before coming to the United States.
Governor of North Carolina, Josh Stein, wrote on the social media platform X, “I am heartbroken for the family of Iryna Zarutska, who lost their loved one to this senseless act of violence, and I am appalled by the footage of her murder. We need more cops on the beat to keep people safe. That’s why my budget calls for more funding to hire more well-trained police officers. I call upon the legislature to pass my law enforcement recruitment and retention package to address vacancies in our state and local agencies so they can stop these horrific crimes and hold violent criminals accountable.”
Iryna Zarutska was riding a Charlotte Area Transit System light rail train on Aug. 28, when she was stabbed to death. Video of the incident has circulated on various social media platforms. The video shows a passenger seated behind the victim stand up and stab her. None of the other passengers got up to assist her and bled to death.
A statement released by the family’s attorney Lauren O. Newton said that Zarutska was working at a pizza parlor at the time of her death and had been taking community college courses to improve her English. “She was a kind and hardworking young woman, deeply loved by her family and friends,” the statement said. “That night, she texted her boyfriend that she would be home soon. Tragically, her journey ended in violence near the Camden light rail station.”
Prior to coming to the U.S., Zarutska studied in Kyiv and graduated with a degree in art and restoration, a report on CNN said.