North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek said his office will now be investigating the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) after the murder of Iryna Zarutska, 23, on Charlotte’s light rail shortly before 10pm on Aug. 22, allegedly by 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., who appeared to be caught on video committing the act.  

The Ukrainian refugee fled the war in Ukraine, along with her mother and siblings in 2022.

Zarutska was traveling on Charlotte’s Lynx Blue Line when she was allegedly stabbed three times in the neck by Brown.

Brown was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. He is currently being held without bond. Jail records show Brown has several prior convictions, including armed robbery, felony larceny, breaking and entering, and shoplifting. 

According to the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), Brown boarded without buying a ticket. At its Sept. 3 special meeting, the agency said it will boost ticket inspections and roll out validator machines.

The story has gained attention across the country and around the world. President Donald Trump said the White House and others would be looking into it.

Boliek said the investigation will focus on the public safety aspects of CATS, including but not limited to private security contracts, metrics, and data used by CATS and private security for public safety purposes, and the CATS safety and security budget.

“One of the most basic duties a government owes the people is public safety,” Boliek said in a press release. “The recent lawlessness and violence that have taken place on Charlotte’s public transportation system raise serious questions about the security measures in place. We will investigate CATS and examine its public safety contracts and operations.”

The press release highlights that Charlotte has faced a string of violent incidents recently on public transportation. In March, a 64-year-old veteran was attacked on a CATS bus, and according to his family, he became paralyzed from the neck down as a result of the attack. Months later, in August, a 57-year-old veteran was hospitalized after being attacked by multiple people on a CATS bus. Just days after that, a repeat offender who had previously been in prison for robbery with a deadly weapon stabbed and killed a woman on Charlotte’s light rail.

Boliek said that Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, Metropolitan Transit Commission leadership, and CATS leadership have been notified of the investigation, which will begin immediately.

special report on cmpd police chief secret payment to be released this weEK

He also noted that his office’s Special Report on the City of Charlotte’s payment to the chief of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, Johnny Jennings, will be released this week.

FBI, others also investigating as all eyes are on Charlotte

The auditor’s office is not the only entity that said it would be investigating the incident.

FBI Director Kash Patel said on X, “The FBI has been investigating the Charlotte train murder from day one.” US Attorney General Pam Bondi also said that her office will also be prosecuting the case.

Additionally, the North Carolina House Oversight and Accountability Committee is also investigating.

North Carolina Senate Leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, said via X that he is working on a bill that includes repealing and prohibiting the Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice (TREC) and others like it “from meeting and endangering the lives of North Carolinians.”

Gov. Cooper facing criticism for creating racial equity task force

Former Democrat Gov. Roy Cooper, now a 2026 US Senate race candidate, created the task force by executive order in June 2020.

President Trump and others blamed Cooper for creating such a task force, which he said recommended “reimagining public safety” to “promote diversion and other alternatives to arrest,” “deemphasize” some felony crimes, prioritize “restorative justice,” and “eliminate cash bail” for many crimes.

The task force was also co-chaired by then-attorney general and current Democratic Gov. Josh Stein.

Trump also stated in a press release that in 2020, the Charlotte City Council launched an initiative to “reimagine“ policing, which included diverting 911 calls away from the police department.

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Charlotte Charlotte Area Transit System Dave Boliek DeCarlos Brown Jr. Donald Trump