A devastating tragedy in Charlotte shocked both the U.S. and Ukraine after 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska was brutally stabbed to death on a light-rail train on August 22, 2025. Witnesses described a horrifying, unprovoked attack as a man sitting behind her—later identified as Decarlos Brown Jr., a repeat offender with 14 prior arrests—suddenly rose and stabbed her in the neck three times. Despite desperate attempts by passengers to save her, Zarutska died at the scene, leaving a community heartbroken and demanding justice.

Public outrage over her killing led North Carolina lawmakers to pass House Bill 307, known as “Iryna’s Law.” The bill was signed in early October 2025 and aims to strengthen public-safety measures and tighten bail evaluations for violent offenders. It also reopens the state’s debate over capital punishment by allowing alternative execution methods—such as the firing squad—if lethal injection becomes unavailable or unconstitutional.

Governor Josh Stein, while approving the bill, made it clear he personally opposes firing squads, calling them “barbaric.” He stated that lethal injection remains the only authorized method of execution during his term. Still, the inclusion of alternative methods in Iryna’s Law reflects growing frustration among citizens who believe violent repeat offenders should face harsher consequences.

If Brown is convicted of murder, he could face the death penalty under this new framework. However, any execution would likely take years due to legal appeals and procedural reviews. For now, Iryna Zarutska’s death has not only sparked grief but also reignited one of the most polarizing moral and political debates in America—the question of how justice should be served for the most heinous of crimes.