Iryna Zarutska case update: New video shows Decarlos Brown's chilling ‘laugh’ before stabbing

Chilling footage of Decarlos Brown, the suspect who fatally stabbed Iryna Zarutska in a Charlotte bus, has surfaced

Published on: Oct 3, 2025, 03:06:48 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Chilling footage of Decarlos Brown, the suspect who fatally stabbed Iryna Zarutska in a Charlotte bus, has surfaced. The newly released surveillance clip shows the moment the 34-year-old attacker boarded the bus, two hours before Zarutska, 23, took her seat on the light rail.

Did DeCarlos' Brown Jr's mugshot and Iryna Zarutska, before he was killed. (X)

CBS affiliate WBTV posted the video to reveal that Decarlos Brown did not pay his fare or show a bus pass back on August 22. He remained silent for a few minutes before breaking into laughter. It is unclear why he was laughing.

Brown later yawned. He moved back on the bus and continued laughing. An hour later, at approximately 9:46 PM, Zarutska boarded the bus. Brown stabbed her just before he exited the light rail. As bystanders watched, he exited the bus and crossed the train tracks.

Decarlos Brown faces several charges

The Justice Department has charged Brown with a federal crime that could carry the death penalty. It was revealed that he had 14 prior criminal arrests before he was accused of pulling out a knife and killing 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska.

“Iryna Zarutska was a young woman living the American dream — her horrific murder is a direct result of failed soft-on-crime policies that put criminals before innocent people,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. “We will seek the maximum penalty for this unforgivable act of violence — he will never again see the light of day as a free man."

“Criminals like this need to be LOCKED UP,” President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social.

“Americans have to feel safe in the in the cities that they live in,” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Fox News. “And this is a stark example of how leftist liberal policies are failing.”

Charlotte has increased security along its transit lines in response to the fatal stabbing, Mayor Vi Lyles said in a letter to the city’s residents.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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