A federal judge has delayed the trial of Decarlos Brown Jr., the man accused of killing Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a train in Charlotte, North Carolina, after finding that he is not mentally fit to face trial at this stage.
Brown, 35, is accused of stabbing 23-year-old Zarutska to death on the Charlotte Area Transit System light rail in August 2025. Zarutska had fled Ukraine after Russia’s invasion and had been living in the United States when she was killed.
The ruling came during a short hearing in federal court on Tuesday. Brown reportedly interrupted the proceedings and spoke directly to the judge about his mental health evaluation. He also claimed there was “material in his body” and said he wanted law enforcement, including the FBI, to investigate.
The court heard that Brown had been examined through the federal prison system. Mental health professionals had spent several hours evaluating him before their findings were sent to the court.
U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell ruled that Brown is not currently able to understand the legal case against him or properly assist his lawyers. The judge ordered that he remain in federal custody while receiving treatment and medication for up to four months.
The aim of the treatment is to restore Brown’s competency so the case can move forward. After that period, the court will review whether he is fit to stand trial, needs more treatment, or cannot be restored to competency in the near future.
The ruling does not decide whether Brown is guilty or innocent. It only deals with whether he can legally take part in the trial process.
Federal prosecutors say Zarutska was on the Lynx Blue Line on August 22, 2025, when she sat in a row in front of Brown. According to court documents, surveillance footage showed Brown taking out a knife a few minutes later and stabbing her three times from behind.
After the attack, Brown allegedly walked away. Police later found him on the light rail platform.
Brown was first charged federally in September 2025 and was later indicted by a federal grand jury in October. He faces one federal count of violence against a railroad carrier and mass transportation system resulting in death.
If convicted in the federal case, Brown could face life in prison. The charge could also make him eligible for the death penalty, although the Justice Department has not publicly announced whether it will seek that punishment.
Brown is also facing a separate first-degree murder charge in North Carolina state court. That case has also been delayed after a state psychiatric evaluation found him incapable of proceeding.
His lawyers have argued that he suffers from serious mental illness and cannot currently help with his defence. A federal mental health report filed under seal also found that his competency may be restored with proper medication and treatment.
The killing drew national attention after video of the attack was released. It also became part of a wider political debate in the United States about crime, public transport safety, repeat offenders, bail decisions and mental health failures.
President Donald Trump strongly condemned the killing last September and used the case while calling for tougher action against violent repeat offenders. He described Brown as a dangerous suspect with a long arrest history and said authorities needed to respond more forcefully to violent crime.
In North Carolina, the case helped push lawmakers to pass a criminal justice bill known as “Iryna’s Law.” Governor Josh Stein signed the bill in October 2025. The law tightened some pretrial release rules, restricted cashless bail in certain cases and expanded mental health evaluation requirements for some defendants.
Supporters said the law was needed to protect the public from people accused of serious violence. Critics argued that the bill did not fully deal with deeper problems in the mental health system, policing and court process.
For Zarutska’s family, the court delay means the wait for trial continues. Prosecutors have said the competency ruling is a necessary legal step to make sure the case can survive any future appeal.
Brown remains in custody and has not been convicted in either the federal or state case. The next major decision will come after doctors report whether treatment has made him mentally fit to stand trial.