Suspects in separate Charlotte, North Carolina, train stabbings face federal counts

Federal authorities on Thursday stepped into a second case involving Charlotte’s light rail system, charging a Honduran man with a violent attack just hours after the court appearance of another suspect accused of killing a Ukrainian refugee on the same transit network.

Decarlos Brown Jr., shackled and wearing a jumpsuit, appeared in federal court on charges of causing death on a mass transportation system. Prosecutors allege Brown, 35, fatally stabbed 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska in August during what appears to have been a random attack captured on video.

Brown already faces first-degree murder charges in state court, but federal prosecutors intervened amid mounting questions about why he was on the street despite more than a dozen prior criminal arrests. If convicted in either court system, Brown could face life imprisonment or the death penalty.

The second case involves Oscar Gerardo Solorzano-Garcia, 33, who was charged Thursday with committing an act of violence on a mass transportation system and illegal reentry into the United States. State authorities had previously charged him with attempted first-degree murder after he allegedly stabbed a man in the chest during an altercation on a Charlotte train on December 5. The victim was hospitalized.

“Everyone who rides the light rail is a victim of this crime,” said Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for western North Carolina, during a news conference. “Mass transportation systems belong to the public. They must be safe, they must be accessible, and they must be free from threats.”

According to an FBI affidavit, Solorzano-Garcia appeared intoxicated on the train when he engaged in a verbal dispute with another passenger. The confrontation escalated when he allegedly pulled out a knife at least 12 inches long and stabbed the other passenger, who then received aid from fellow commuters. Solorzano-Garcia fled the train but was quickly apprehended by police.

Federal records indicate Solorzano-Garcia was deported from the United States in both 2018 and 2021. He had previously been convicted of illegal reentry in 2019, for which he served an 18-month prison sentence, and had a 2013 robbery conviction in New Jersey. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated in a release that the suspect “should not have been in our country to begin with.”

The Trump administration has used Brown’s case to criticize what it characterizes as failures by local leaders, judges, and policies in Democratic-led cities like Charlotte to protect residents from violent crime.

Brown’s legal team has requested a psychiatric examination and a competency hearing, expressing “serious concerns about Mr. Brown’s ability to understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings against him or to assist properly in his defense.” They’ve asked that federal proceedings wait until a similar state evaluation is completed, likely by late January.

Prior to the fatal stabbing, Brown had been arrested for repeatedly calling 911 from a hospital, claiming people were trying to control him. A judge released him without bail. His mother told local media that she had sought an involuntary psychiatric commitment earlier this year after Brown became violent at home, adding that he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia.

The two cases have intensified scrutiny of Charlotte’s light rail system safety and sparked debate about how the criminal justice system handles individuals with histories of violence and mental health concerns. They also highlight questions about immigration enforcement and public safety in mass transit systems.

Brown’s next state court appearance is scheduled for April, while Solorzano-Garcia remains held without bond in the Mecklenburg County Jail. The parallel federal and state prosecutions reflect the seriousness with which authorities are treating these attacks on Charlotte’s public transportation network.