{"id":4347,"date":"2026-06-09T18:48:42","date_gmt":"2026-06-09T18:48:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/2026\/06\/09\/us-judge-finds-man-accused-of-killing-woman-on-charlotte-train-incompetent-to-stand-trial\/"},"modified":"2026-06-09T18:48:42","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T18:48:42","slug":"us-judge-finds-man-accused-of-killing-woman-on-charlotte-train-incompetent-to-stand-trial","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=4347","title":{"rendered":"US judge finds man accused of killing woman on Charlotte train incompetent to stand trial"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"border-color:var(--article-border);background-color:var(--article-inner-background)\" class=\"dcr-wqti5a\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1ma2nzf\">\n<div style=\"--grid-area:media\" data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tr9ye5\">\n<figure id=\"f8ef2883-4b5e-432f-b0b6-5ba17c342a3e\" class=\"dcr-142siv7\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"a person holds a candle and a sheet of paper with a photo of a young woman\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/8c908a2951fca86455d7a41b5a5239e969605507\/347_0_3461_2769\/master\/3461.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"372.0268708465761\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><span class=\"dcr-v822l1\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-gup2gr\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fntg6k\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-1xgwz8b\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1os51wo\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Community members gather for a vigil honoring the life of Iryna Zarutska on 22 September 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina.<\/span> Photograph: Nell Redmond\/AP<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"f8ef2883-4b5e-432f-b0b6-5ba17c342a3e\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-n4pnam\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1hdkqum\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Community members gather for a vigil honoring the life of Iryna Zarutska on 22 September 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina.<\/span> Photograph: Nell Redmond\/AP<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:border\" data-gu-name=\"border\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:headline\" data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1jwoxwb\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-1k1a1x\">US judge finds man accused of killing woman on Charlotte train incompetent to stand trial <\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:standfirst\" data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-15in7js\">\n<p>Decarlos Brown Jr to stay in custody while receiving treatment for remainder of case over Iryna Zarutska\u2019s death<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:body\" data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-pzh79o\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1a4fred\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-ydnaza\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-1c9t5u6\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The man <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2025\/sep\/09\/north-carolina-ukraine-woman-stabbing\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">accused<\/a> of fatally stabbing Iryna Zarutska on a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/charlotte\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Charlotte<\/a> commuter train in August has been found incompetent to stand trial in federal court for now, the US attorney\u2019s office for the western district of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/northcarolina\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">North Carolina<\/a> said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Decarlos Brown Jr, 35, is accused of killing Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, on a Charlotte light rail train in a case that drew <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2025\/sep\/15\/charlotte-north-carolina-bus-killing-far-right\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">national attention<\/a> after a surveillance camera video depicting the violent attack was released.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Brown appeared in federal court on Tuesday morning for a competency hearing, and during the short proceeding he was \u201cfound incompetent to stand trial at this time\u201d, the US attorney\u2019s office said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cHowever, the judge found Mr Brown\u2019s prognosis to become competent is good and ordered that Mr Brown be given treatment,\u201d the statement continued. \u201cMr Brown will remain in federal custody while he obtains treatment and for the duration of his case.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The office added that the finding on Brown deals strictly with the constitutional definition of competency, which involves his ability to understand the proceedings and assist in his own defense. \u201cIt has nothing to do with the facts of the case or the stabbing that occurred on Charlotte\u2019s light rail,\u201d the US attorney\u2019s office added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Russ Ferguson, a US attorney of the western district of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/northcarolina\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">North Carolina<\/a>, said in a statement: \u201cThis case weighs on our hearts every day, and our chief concern is obtaining justice for Iryna Zarutska and her family.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cThis is a step in the process to ensure we have a solid case that can withstand appeal.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">In September, Brown was federally <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/justice-department-charges-light-rail-attacker-federal-crime\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">charged<\/a> with one count of committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system, an offense that carries up to life in prison or the death penalty, according to the US justice department.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">He also faces a state charge of first-degree murder in Zarutska\u2019s 22 August 2025 slaying. In April, Brown was deemed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/04\/09\/us\/charlotte-rail-stabbing-decarlos-brown-iryna-zarutska.html\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">incapable<\/a> of proceeding to trial on the state murder charge on similar grounds as Tuesday\u2019s ruling.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">An April hearing in the state murder case was reportedly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wcnc.com\/article\/news\/crime\/decarlos-brown-found-incompetent-to-stand-trial-iryna-zarutska-murder-case\/275-1b9cbff0-b7cc-4c94-9350-4367d69903d9\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">delayed until October<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">According to North Carolina television news outlet <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wral.com\/news\/local\/decarlos-brown-mental-competency-trial-june-2026\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">WRAL<\/a>, the federal judge in Tuesday\u2019s hearing ordered Brown to be hospitalized for up to four months so medical professionals can evaluate him and determine whether treatment can restore his competency to continue with the case.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">WRAL reported that there will be another hearing to assess if he is mentally fit to stand trial when he is released from hospital.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">After the hearing on Tuesday, WRAL reported that Ferguson told a reporter that he is \u201cvery hopeful\u201d that Brown\u2019s competency will be restored. \u201cThe doctor [who] examined him for the competency hearing today found that his prognosis for restoration is very good, so I rely on the doctors there,\u201d he said. \u201cI think the prognosis is good, and we\u2019ll see him stand trial.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Brown has a documented <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/09\/28\/us\/nc-stabbing-suspect-police-mental-health-history.html\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">history<\/a> of prior arrests, other legal problems and mental health issues. His attorneys <a href=\"https:\/\/www.courthousenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/decarlos-brown-defense-competence.pdf\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">argued<\/a> in May that Brown \u201csuffers from serious mental illness and impairments\u201d and have said that \u201cexaminers with the [justice department and the federal Bureau of Prisons] have determined that Mr Brown\u2019s mental illness and impairments make him currently incapable of proceeding in his federal criminal case\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Ahead of Tuesday\u2019s hearing, Brown\u2019s attorneys submitted a letter that he wrote to the court.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">In the letter, which appears in the court docket, Brown wrote: \u201cI would like to tell the court I have a body emergency. Someone has full access to my body and they are controlling me wrongfully. And law enforcement refuses to investigate it. And it requires an investigation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cWhen describing the technology someone was using I was misdiagnosed with schizophrenia.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-qxqnsy\"><span class=\"dcr-1rq3vad\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-1dzx48f\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-1xavc9x\">\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/northcarolina\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">North Carolina<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/charlotte\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Charlotte<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-crime\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">US crime<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-justice-system\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">US justice system<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-nu129i\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=US%20judge%20finds%20man%20accused%20of%20killing%20woman%20on%20Charlotte%20train%20incompetent%20to%20stand%20trial%20&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jun\/09\/iryna-zarutska-suspect-incompetent-charlotte-trial?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-125qj9d\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-zhx6xs\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Fjun%2F09%2Firyna-zarutska-suspect-incompetent-charlotte-trial&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/jun\/09\/iryna-zarutska-suspect-incompetent-charlotte-trial\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-14rjinq\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:right-column\" data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-babllm\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tn16h9\">\n<section class=\"dcr-1hko8ef\"><\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Community members gather for a vigil honoring the life of Iryna Zarutska on 22 September 2025 in Charlotte,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":4349,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4347","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4347","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4347"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4347\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4349"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4347"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4347"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4347"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}