The DoJ can ask for the death penalty for the killer of the Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, says Bondi

After President Donald Trump’s call to Swift Action, US prosecutor Pam Bondi shared that the Ministry of Justice could ask for the killer of Iryna Zarutska.

Speaking on Wednesday with journalists, Bondi shared that the alleged murderer of Zarutska, DeCarlos Brown Jr., was arrested and that he is federal.

“We have arrested him. We load it federally because it was murder in public transport,” said Bondi.

“This young woman died a horrible and horrible death, as we have all seen, captured on video,” she continued, adding: “It was horrible.”

AG Pam Bondi: We will not let a progressive DA get this case

Decartlos Brown Jr. (left) is accused of fatally stabbed the Ukrainian refugees Iryna Zarutska (center). The American prosecutor General Pam Bondi (right) said that the death penalty was “on the table”. (Sheriff’s Bureau of the County of Mecklenburg (MCSO) and Reuters and Evgeniya Rush / Gofundme)

“The steps are, we will charge, so we fall. Then, legally, we make the decision to ask or not the death penalty. It is certainly on the table once it is charged for this horrible crime,” said Bondi.

Zarutska, a 23 -year -old refugee from Ukraine, was stabbed to death while he was taking a light train on tram in Charlotte, in North Carolina. The stab wounds, captured on video, took place on August 22 around 10:30 p.m. while Zarutska was back from work in a pizza restaurant. Still in his uniform, Zarutska sits in front of a man, later identified as brown, wearing a red hooded sweatshirt. A few moments later, the man released a knife and stabbed him to death, with several passers -by.

Brown, 34, was arrested shortly after the incident and hospitalized before being accused of first degree murder. Police confirmed that Brown and Zarutska did not know each other.

Who is Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee killed during the Charlotte attack?

Iryna Zarutska stops as her attacker touches her. (Newsnation via the transit system in the Charlotte region)

The judicial archives, previously reported by Fox News Digital, Show Brown have a history of arrests dating from 2011, including accusations of crime theft, theft with a dangerous weapon and communicating threats. Most accusations were then abandoned.

Trump on Tuesday called on the government to respond to the wave of murders in the United States with decisive action, saying: “We must be vicious as they are.”

He blamed Democratic leaders in major American cities for having adopted “taken and freeing” politicians “for thugs and killers”.

“In Charlotte, in North Carolina, we saw the results of these policies when a 23 -year -old who came from Ukraine met her bloody on a public train,” said the president. “It was massacred by a disturbed monster that wandered freely after 14 previous arrests.”

Trump tackles Charlotte’s mortal beads: “ it’s time to stop this madness ”

The white house press secretary Karoline Leavitt talks about the deadly stab wounds by a Ukrainian woman, Iryna Zarutska, aboard a northern Carolina train during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, DC, on September 9, 2025. (Jonathan Ernst / Reuters)

“We cannot allow a depraved criminal element of violent recurrences to continue to spread destruction and death throughout our country. We must respond with strength and strength,” said Trump.

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In a social article of truth, Trump wrote: “The animal that has so violently killed the beautiful young woman from Ukraine, who came to America in search of peace and security, should receive a quick trial ” (there is no doubt!), And only granted the death penalty. There can be no other option!”

Emma Bussey of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.