A man accused of fatally stabbing a young Ukrainian woman on a Charlotte light rail train has been indicted on federal charges that could make him eligible for the death penalty.
A federal grand jury in North Carolina on Wednesday indicted 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., charging him with violence against a railroad carrier and mass transportation system resulting in death.
The charges stem from the August 22 stabbing of 23-year-old Iryna Zaruska, a Ukrainian national, aboard a Lynx Blue Line light rail train in Charlotte.
According to prosecutors, surveillance video from the train showed Zaruska boarding and sitting in front of Brown. About four minutes later, Brown allegedly pulled a pocketknife from his pocket and stabbed her three times from behind. Investigators recovered a knife and other evidence from the scene.
Zaruska suffered critical injuries and later died.
Authorities say Brown has a lengthy criminal record, including prior convictions for larceny, breaking and entering, and robbery with a dangerous weapon. He previously served five years in prison starting in 2015, according to the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction.
Federal prosecutors say the indictment reflects the seriousness of the crime, which occurred aboard a public transportation system. If convicted, Brown could face life in prison or the death penalty.