Governor Josh Stein has officially signed House Bill 307, known as “Iryna’s Law,” named after the 23-year-old woman who was fatally stabbed aboard a Charlotte light rail train earlier this year.
A refugee’s dream turned nightmare
Iryna Zarutska fled the war in Ukraine hoping to start a new life in safety.
But in August 2025, her life was violently cut short when a stranger, 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., suddenly stood behind her on the train and stabbed her multiple times in an unprovoked attack — all captured on surveillance footage.
Iryna, known for her “radiant smile,” was a talented artist with a degree in art and restoration from a Kyiv college — but her heart was set on a different dream: becoming a veterinary assistant and building a new life in America.
Her family’s grief echoed across social media:
“We are heartbroken beyond words. Iryna came here to find peace and safety, and instead her life was stolen from her in the most horrific way. No family should have to go through this.”
On Oct. 1, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department released the emergency calls that poured in from terrified passengers who frantically described the scene as Zarutska lay unresponsive on the floor of the train car.
“It could be any of us, it could be (inaudible) too!” one caller can be heard hysterically crying, according to 911 recordings obtained by Fox News. “This man f****** stabbed her for no reason. I was standing right beside her…she’s bleeding!”
Another caller tried to direct the dispatcher to the scene but was clearly rattled: “This lady just got stabbed…I’m not sure where we are…There’s a tall building with blue X’s on it. There’s a lady on the ground. She’s bleeding a lot. I don’t think she’s responsive. There is a lot of blood.”
Federal prosecutors later took over the case because the attack occurred on public transportation, meaning Brown now faces both state and federal charges — and potentially, the death penalty.
A system that failed her
Public outrage deepened when it emerged that Decarlos Brown had been arrested 14 times before. Despite a record of violence and mental illness, a magistrate judge had released him on cashless bail just months before the killing.
Even his brother, Jeremiah Brown, said the tragedy could have been avoided:
“I think they could have pretty much prevented it then,” he said. “He could do it again. I think he should suffer the consequences.”
What “Iryna’s Law” does
The murder of Iryna reached the highest political levels in the U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in on the brutal killing, blaming Democrats and accusing them of “refusing to put bad people in jail.”
The tragedy has now led to legal consequences — with a brand-new law named in her memory.
The new legislation, introduced after growing public outrage over Iryna’s death, is designed to stop repeat violent offenders like Brown from slipping through the cracks. Among its key measures are:
Stricter bail reviews for violent offenders
Limits on cashless bail for serious crimes
Mandatory mental health evaluations for defendants with recent involuntary commitments
A two-year deadline for death penalty appeal reviews
And, controversially, the return of the firing squad as a backup method of execution
A divided reaction
Governor Josh Stein defended signing the bill, saying:
“House Bill 307, or ‘Iryna’s Law,’ alerts the judiciary to take a special look at people who may pose unusual risks of violence before determining their bail. That’s a good thing and why I have signed it into law.”
However, he made one thing clear — the firing squad provision will not be used under his leadership:
“There will be no firing squads in North Carolina during my time as governor.”
For Iryna’s family, the law is a bittersweet legacy. While it can’t bring her back, they hope it will save others from suffering the same fate — and serve as a reminder that one life lost can change an entire state.
