Accused Killer's Relatives Also Faced Legal Troubles

Decarlos Brown Jr., the homeless felon accused of fatally stabbing a young Ukrainian commuter on a Charlotte light rail train, comes from a family with a history of criminal activity. Court records and law enforcement documents reveal a pattern of legal troubles within the Brown family.

Stacey Dejon Brown, the alleged killer's older brother, is currently serving a lengthy prison sentence for a 2012 shotgun slaying during a robbery. His sister, Tracey Vontrea Brown, has a criminal record that includes various offenses such as shoplifting, larceny, and vehicle theft, with recent arrests in 2024.

Their father, Decarlos Brown Sr., has also faced arrests for offenses including breaking and entering, conspiracy, and possession of a weapon. These cases illustrate a cycle of criminal behavior across multiple generations, now culminating in Brown Jr.'s federal charge in the August 2025 killing of Iryna Zarutska.

Brown Jr.'s brother, Stacey, used the Charlotte light rail to evade police after a 2012 murder. Stacey pleaded guilty to a series of violent crimes, including second-degree murder, stemming from the fatal shooting of a 65-year-old man during a robbery.

The violent attack on Zarutska was captured on train surveillance video. The Department of Justice noted that Brown Jr. was seen leaving the train car with blood on him. According to police, Zarutska was stabbed multiple times in the throat. Federal authorities have charged Brown Jr. with causing death on a mass transportation system.