A tragedy that should never have happened has now sparked an outcry across North Carolina and beyond. The murder of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, who fled her war-torn homeland seeking safety, has instead become a chilling reminder of what happens when repeat offenders are given leniency over public safety.
Rep. Mark Harris (R-NC) and the entire North Carolina Republican delegation are calling for the removal of Magistrate Judge Teresa Stokes, who authorized the release of Decarlos Brown Jr. despite his long criminal history. Brown is now charged with fatally stabbing Zarutska on Charlotte’s Lynx Blue Line light rail on August 22. Surveillance footage captured the moment when he rose from his seat and brutally stabbed her three times in the throat.
Harris posted a statement on X declaring that “the entire NC Republican delegation called for the removal of Magistrate Judge Teresa Stokes for letting Iryna Zarutska’s murderer out on the streets,” adding that her interpretation of pretrial release statutes “calls into question her fitness for service.” While the District Court said it was “reviewing” and “evaluating” its policies, Harris pressed the urgent question: is Judge Stokes still making decisions for other criminals “even though she has lost the public’s confidence”?
The delegation’s call was backed by a September 10 letter from Roy H. Wiggins, confirming his office was “reviewing our local bond policy” and “evaluating all aspects” of pretrial procedures after Zarutska’s killing. Wiggins said magistrates would receive more education on the consequences of release decisions but emphasized the process would be handled with “the confidentiality required by law.”
Zarutska’s family has decided her burial will be in the United States, noting she “loved America.” But for many, her death represents not only personal tragedy but a systemic failure. Brown, 34, had over a dozen prior charges, including violent offenses. His own brother admitted, “I think they could have pretty much prevented it then,” referring to his release earlier this year despite his criminal history and mental health struggles.
National leaders have not stayed silent. Former President Donald Trump called Brown an “ANIMAL” and demanded he face “only the DEATH PENALTY” in a quick trial. Attorney General Pam Bondi directed federal prosecutors to seek the maximum penalty, while FBI Director Kash Patel described the killing as “a disgraceful act that should never happen in America.” These reactions highlight a broader frustration with what many see as a justice system bending toward leniency at the cost of public safety.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy went further, tying the killing to the responsibilities of local leadership. “If mayors can’t keep their trains and buses safe, they don’t deserve the taxpayers’ money,” he said, before announcing a federal investigation into Charlotte’s transit system. Duffy ordered a review of its safety protocols, crime prevention strategies, and security spending, warning that “soft on crime policies” were putting riders in danger. His pledge of a “whole of government approach” underscores the seriousness with which conservatives see this failure of accountability.
Even online, controversy has erupted. Editors at Wikipedia attempted to delete the page documenting Zarutska’s killing and initially blocked mention of Brown’s name. That move drew fire from Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), who accused the site of bias and “trying to memory hole Iryna Zarutska’s murder.” The House Oversight Committee is now examining the Wikimedia Foundation as part of a broader review of online censorship and political bias.
Before his assassination on September 10, Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk weighed in forcefully on X. He argued that it was “100% necessary” to confront the political decisions that freed a repeat offender with “14 priors,” and he accused the official Black Lives Matter account of attempting to justify the attack. His comments reflected a growing sentiment that the criminal justice system’s leniency is not a compassionate policy but a dangerous gamble with innocent lives.
For conservatives, the Zarutska case underscores a basic truth: justice systems exist to protect the public, not to give repeat offenders endless chances. When courts release violent criminals back onto the streets, it’s ordinary citizens — like a young woman who came to America believing it was a safe haven — who pay the price. And when accountability is absent, the confidence of the people in their institutions erodes even further.
The calls for Judge Stokes’s removal are not simply about one decision. They speak to a deeper issue of whether those entrusted with authority are willing to put the safety of citizens first. In this case, the answer has already proven deadly.
