The girl on the train, Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, was fatally stabbed in an unprovoked attack on August 22, 2025, while riding the Lynx Blue Line light rail in Charlotte, North Carolina. She had just finished her work shift and sat in an aisle seat in front of the attacker, Decarlos Brown Jr., who pulled out a knife and stabbed her multiple times without any interaction or warning. Zarutska was pronounced dead at the scene. Brown, who has a history of criminal offenses and mental health issues, was arrested immediately after the attack and faces first-degree murder charges. The attack shocked the community and led to increased security measures on the Charlotte light rail. Zarutska had fled the war in Ukraine in 2022 and was pursuing a better life in the U.S., including plans to become a veterinary assistant. Her death has sparked national outrage and calls for improved safety on public transportation.