Iryna Zarutska’s journey to the United States was one marked by hope, courage, and the pursuit of a better life. As a young woman of just 23 years old, she fled the devastating conflict in Ukraine, seeking refuge from a war that had uprooted her world. Like many immigrants and refugees before her, Iryna dreamed of safety and opportunity in a new country. She was a gifted artist, having earned a degree in art and restoration from a respected college in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital. Yet, her ambitions extended beyond art.
Decarlos Brown Jr., a 34-year-old man with a long history of run-ins with the law and documented struggles with mental illness, approached Iryna from behind and stabbed her multiple times in an unprovoked assault. The entire attack was captured on surveillance cameras installed on the train, providing undeniable and heartbreaking evidence of the event.
The footage showed a moment of pure terror and violence that left passengers frozen in shock and disbelief. Emergency calls made by terrified witnesses revealed the chaos and fear that unfolded in real time. One caller, voice trembling with hysteria, described how Brown had stabbed Iryna for no apparent reason while she was simply standing on the train. “I was standing right beside her…she’s bleeding!” the caller shouted into the phone. Another passenger, struggling to identify their location amidst the confusion, gave fragmented descriptions of nearby landmarks while desperately relaying that a woman was lying on the floor, bleeding heavily and unresponsive. These raw and frantic calls highlighted the suddenness and brutality of the attack and the helplessness of those who witnessed it.
Continue reading…
