In a powerful and direct statement, President Donald Trump has called for the “death penalty” for the man accused of brutally murdering a young Ukrainian refugee on a North Carolina commuter train. The President’s remarks, posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, come as the tragic case of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska continues to shock the nation.
Zarutska, who had fled the war in Ukraine and its bomb shelters to seek a life of peace and safety in the United States, was viciously stabbed to death last month. Surveillance video from the train shows the horrifying and unprovoked attack, in which 34-year-old DeCarlos Brown Jr. is seen taking a pocket knife and stabbing her as she sat in front of him.
Expressing his outrage, Trump referred to the accused as an “ANIMAL” and insisted that he should be given a “Quick” trial with “only” the death penalty as the outcome. “There can be no other option!!!” he wrote.
This is not the first time the President has commented on the horrific incident. In a previous post, he had placed the blame on “Democrats who refuse to put bad people in jail,” tying the tragedy to his broader message on “law and order” and a push to elect Republican candidates. The murder has become a lightning rod in the national conversation about criminal justice reform and public safety, especially in cities governed by Democrats.
Trump’s latest statement coincides with a significant development in the case. The U.S. Justice Department has now charged DeCarlos Brown Jr. with a federal crime, “causing death on a mass transportation system,” a charge that can carry the death penalty. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has also vowed to pursue the “maximum penalty,” stating, “We will seek the maximum penalty for this unforgivable act of violence — he will never again see the light of day as a free man.”
The murder of Iryna Zarutska has resonated deeply with the public. It’s a stark reminder of the fragile peace sought by refugees and the ongoing challenges with violent crime and mental health in the United States. The release of the chilling video and the extensive criminal history of the accused have only intensified calls for action and sparked a fierce debate over a broken justice system that many feel let Zarutska down.