The release of surveillance video showing the brutal murder of a young Ukrainian refugee on a Charlotte light rail train has fueled outrage — not only over the crime itself, but over the silence from Democrat leaders and legacy media outlets, according to the New York Post.

A Brutal Attack Captured on Video

Surveillance video released by the Charlotte Area Transit System shows 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska sitting in her pizzeria uniform, scrolling on her phone, when 35-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr. unfolded a pocketknife behind her. The clip ends just before Brown lunges, the Post reported.

Police say Zarutska was stabbed multiple times and died on the Lynx Blue Line on Aug. 22. After the killing, Brown was seen wandering through the train, dripping blood, stripping off his hoodie, and calmly waiting for the next stop.

A Record of Violence, Yet Still Free

Brown’s history includes armed robbery, larceny, and assaults dating back to 2011, according to the New York Post.  Court records show he has been arrested at least 14 times and has more than a dozen convictions. He served five years for a 2014 armed robbery but was released in 2020. Within months, he was arrested again — this time for attacking his sister. Despite repeated convictions and arrests, he was back on the streets.

Political Silence and Backlash

The release of the video has fueled criticism that Democrat leaders and mainstream outlets are ignoring the case.

Charlotte’s Democrat mayor, Vi Lyles, posted on X: “I want to thank our media partners and community members who have chosen not to repost or share the footage out of respect for Iryna’s family.”

Her message drew sharp responses. Rep. Brad Knott (R-NC) wrote:

Rep. Mark Harris (R-NC) added:

National Silence Called Out

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk also criticized the lack of media coverage, quoting a post that listed how many stories major outlets had published on the case. Musk responded with a single word:

The original post highlighted that AP, PBS, New York Times, NPR, Wall Street Journal, BBC, CNN, and Washington Post had not run articles about Zarutska’s murder.

Local Calls for Crackdown

Charlotte City Council candidate Edwin Peacock said in a video posted to X: “A week ago, 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska was brutally killed on Charlotte’s light rail. Her death is a tragedy we cannot ignore. Who’s riding without paying? Are they the ones causing problems? We need answers.”

Former Matthews mayor Jim Taylor said: “As a former member of the MTC, I’m deeply disappointed in what’s been happening & the loss of focus on making the light rail welcoming & safe to travelers. It’s only going to get worse until the current MTC & quite frankly, the City of Clt get serious addressing the root cause.”

A Community in Mourning

Zarutska, who fled Ukraine after Russia’s invasion in 2022, was remembered by her employer, Zepeddie’s Pizza, as more than just an employee.

“We lost not only an incredible employee, but a true friend,” the restaurant wrote on Instagram. “Since her passing, we have kept a candle burning in her memory—a small reminder of the warmth, kindness, and light she brought into our lives every single day.”

For many, Zarutska’s death is more than a tragedy — it is a symbol of a justice system that allowed a man with at least 14 arrests and more than a dozen convictions to walk free until he claimed another innocent life.