The Justice Department and FBI have charged Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, with a federal offense for the fatal stabbing of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a North Carolina train in August. Brown, who is also facing a state-level first-degree murder charge, allegedly carried out the attack on the Lynx Blue Line train, where Zarutska was repeatedly stabbed from behind in a seemingly unprovoked assault caught on surveillance footage.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi condemned the killing, blaming soft-on-crime policies and pledging to seek the maximum penalty. She emphasized Brown’s violent criminal history and vowed he would never again walk free. FBI Director Kash Patel also denounced the crime, labeling it a disgraceful act and stating the FBI acted quickly to support the investigation to ensure justice.

Zarutska had come to the U.S. in 2022 seeking asylum from the war in Ukraine. At the time of her death, she was working at Zepeddie’s Pizza and was in her work uniform during the attack. The footage shows her turning around in horror just before the stabbing, which shocked the local community and gained national attention.

Brown’s criminal record includes at least 14 arrests in North Carolina since 2007, involving charges like assault, robbery, and illegal firearm possession. He was imprisoned for armed robbery in 2014 and released in 2020, only to be incarcerated again months later for assaulting a family member.

Prior to the murder, Brown had falsely reported to police that a “man-made” device was controlling him. He was arrested after calling 911 repeatedly and was released days later on cashless parole. A forensic evaluation was ordered for him in late July.

Brown’s mother told local news that her son is schizophrenic and should not have been on the streets. Former President Trump also condemned the murder, blaming lax bail policies and calling Brown a “lunatic.”