On the night of Aug. 22, Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee who had fled the horrors of war in her homeland, boarded a Charlotte Area Transit System light rail train. She had just finished a shift at a local pizzeria. Her headphones were on, and her mind was perhaps drifting to the life she was building in America — a country she believed offered safety from the violence she had escaped. Four minutes later, she was dead, stabbed three times, including once in the neck, by a man she had never met. The suspect, Decarlos Brown Jr., a 34-year-old with a rap sheet boasting at least 14 prior arrests, walked off the train, discarded his hoodie, and was arrested shortly after. The surveillance footage, later released by CATS, captures the chilling randomness of the attack — a moment of unprovoked brutality that has since ignited a firestorm of outrage, debate, and reckoning.

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Zarutska’s murder didn’t make national headlines immediately. For over two weeks, the story languished in obscurity, barely touched by major outlets such as CNN, the Washington Post, or the New York Times. It was conservative voices on X — figures such as White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller, X owner Elon Musk, and the late Charlie Kirk — who amplified the tragedy, forcing the legacy media to take notice. Tragically, Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, was assassinated on Sept. 10, shot in the neck while speaking at Utah Valley University during his American Comeback Tour. His death, described by Gov. Spencer Cox (R-UT) as a “political assassination,” underscores the escalating violence in America’s public square and grimly parallels Zarutska’s fate.

Even when the New York Times finally covered Zarutska’s murder, its headline framed it not as a tragedy of a young woman’s life cut short or a failure of the justice system but as a political cudgel: “Ukrainian Refugee Stabbing in North Carolina Ignites a Firestorm on the Right.” The implication was clear — conservatives, led by voices like Kirk’s, were exploiting a tragedy, not exposing a truth. Kirk’s own murder barely a month later was similarly politicized, with some pundits, including a since-fired MSNBC commentator, quick to characterize Kirk’s rhetoric as “hateful” and “divisive” rather than mourn the loss of a father of two who championed open debate. This framing, alongside the initial silence on Zarutska, reveals a deeper malaise in how America’s media cover crime and political violence, often prioritizing narrative over human loss.

A life cut short, a system failed

Zarutska was no ordinary 23-year-old. Born in Kyiv, she fled Ukraine with her family in 2022, escaping Russia’s invasion. In Charlotte, she was carving out a new life, working at a pizzeria, sculpting art, and designing clothes that reflected her vibrant spirit. She was an animal lover, often caring for neighbors’ pets, and her family described her as a gifted soul whose light shone even in the darkest times. That light was extinguished in an instant on the Lynx Blue Line, in a city she thought was her sanctuary.

The man charged with killing her, Brown, was no stranger to the justice system. With a history of arrests for robbery, assault, breaking and entering, larceny, and misuse of the 911 system, Brown was a walking testament to the revolving door of America’s criminal justice system. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, he had been incarcerated for five years previously, yet on Aug. 22, he was free — free to fare-jump onto a train and commit an act of violence so sudden and vicious it defies comprehension. Surveillance footage shows Zarutska’s killer sitting behind her, standing without warning, and attacking her with a pocketknife. She died on the train, her American dream snuffed out in a matter of seconds.

The media’s deafening silence

How was Brown allowed to roam freely? The question points to a troubling figure in the case: Magistrate Judge Teresa Stokes, who reportedly released Brown after one of his prior arrests. Stokes, appointed as a magistrate in North Carolina, has faced scrutiny for her qualifications — or lack thereof. Critics on X and local reports claimed she never passed the North Carolina bar exam, a shocking revelation for someone wielding such authority. While this claim requires further verification — public records on Stokes’s credentials are sparse — the mere suggestion underscores a broader distrust in the judicial system’s gatekeepers. Whether Stokes failed to pass the bar or not, the fact remains that Brown, with his extensive criminal history, was not in custody when he boarded that train. That failure belongs to a system that prioritizes leniency over accountability — a system that allowed a predator to cross paths with an innocent woman.

For over two weeks, Zarutska’s murder was a nonstory in the national press. Local outlets such as ABC11 and the Charlotte Observer covered it, but major networks and newspapers remained silent. It wasn’t until Sept. 5, when CATS released the surveillance footage, that the story gained traction, not through traditional media but through X. Kirk, before his own tragic death, posted relentlessly, decrying the media’s refusal to cover the story: “Dear CNN, WaPo, NYT, ABC, NBC etc etc,” he wrote on Sept. 7. “If you want to know why your ratings are in the tank and no one likes you, look no further than the brutal murder of Iryna Zarutska who moved to US to escape war in Ukraine, a story you refuse to tell.” Musk posted about the case a dozen times, amplifying the outrage to his 225 million followers. Other figures, including Miller and Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), joined the chorus, framing the murder as emblematic of a broader crime crisis in Democrat-run cities.

The conservative outcry, led by Kirk’s passionate advocacy, forced the legacy media’s hand. On Sept. 8, outlets such as Newsweek and the Hill finally published stories, followed by the New York Times on Sept. 9. But the New York Times’s coverage was telling. Rather than focusing on Zarutska’s life, Brown’s criminal history, or the systemic failures that enabled the attack, the article centered on the “firestorm on the Right,” suggesting that conservatives were politicizing a tragedy for electoral gain. Kirk’s assassination a day later received similar treatment, with some outlets implying that his “divisive” rhetoric contributed to the violence against him. This pattern of deflection, turning stories of human loss into critiques of political opportunism, reveals the media’s discomfort with narratives that challenge their preferred lens.

This selective coverage isn’t new. Compare Zarutska’s case to the 2023 death of Jordan Neely in New York City. Neely, a mentally ill man with a history of violence, was restrained by Daniel Penny, a former Marine, after threatening passengers on a subway. Neely’s death became a national flashpoint, with protests, editorials, and wall-to-wall coverage painting Penny as a vigilante and Neely as a victim of systemic racism. Yet Zarutska, a refugee killed in an unprovoked attack, warranted barely a whisper until conservatives forced the issue. The disparity speaks volumes about media priorities: Stories that fit a narrative of racial or social justice get amplified, and those that highlight random violence or the failures of the criminal justice system get buried.

America’s crime crisis in focus

Zarutska’s murder and Kirk’s assassination are not isolated incidents but symptoms of a broader epidemic of violence plaguing American cities. FBI data show violent crime in major urban areas, while down slightly from 2020 peaks, remains elevated compared to a decade ago. In Charlotte, homicides rose 15% from 2021 to 2024, with public transit often serving as a flashpoint for violence. The Lynx Blue Line, where Zarutska was killed, has seen multiple incidents, from assaults to shootings, prompting Mayor Vi Lyles to announce increased security measures “effective immediately” after the attack. But these measures, more police on trains and enhanced fare enforcement, feel like bandages on a gaping wound.

The real problem lies in the justice system’s failure to contain repeat offenders like Brown. His 14 prior arrests, including violent crimes, paint a picture of a man who should not have been free. Kirk’s killer, still at large as of Sept. 11, reflects a similar failure to address threats before they escalate. Across the country, similar stories abound: In Chicago, 54 people were shot over a single weekend in September 2025, and in Washington, D.C., carjackings and murders surged until recent interventions. The common thread is a reluctance to detain dangerous people, often justified by progressive policies emphasizing rehabilitation over punishment. Magistrate judges like Stokes, whether qualified or not, operate in a system that prioritizes second chances over public safety, leaving citizens like Zarutska and advocates like Kirk vulnerable.

Trump’s crime crackdown

Enter President Donald Trump, whose administration has made reducing crime a centerpiece of its agenda. In Washington, Trump’s law enforcement surge has yielded results: an 87% drop in carjackings, alongside reductions in robberies and murders, earning praise from Mayor Muriel Bowser. Trump’s approach — bolstering police presence, cracking down on repeat offenders, and prioritizing victim safety — contrasts sharply with the leniency that allowed Brown to walk free. On Sept. 8, Trump addressed Zarutska’s murder, calling Brown “a madman” and vowing to “handle” such criminals. After Kirk’s assassination, Trump’s grief was palpable, calling him “legendary” and blaming “radical left” rhetoric for fueling violence. 

Trump’s rhetoric resonates because it taps into a growing public frustration. Polls show that 60% of Americans believe crime is a major problem, with 70% in urban areas feeling less safe than five years ago. Zarutska’s murder and Kirk’s assassination, both amplified by X and conservative voices, have become rallying cries for those demanding change. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a federal investigation into Charlotte’s transit safety, threatening to withhold funding from cities that fail to protect riders. Kirk’s death has prompted similar calls for enhanced security at public events, with Utah’s governor vowing to review campus safety protocols. This move signals a broader push to hold local governments accountable, with Chicago, where violent crime remains a persistent challenge, possibly next on Trump’s list.

The outrage over Zarutska’s death and Kirk’s killing could spur further action. Trump’s advisers have indicated that he sees these cases as emblematic of a national crisis, one he plans to highlight in campaigns. Proposals such as increased federal funding for police, stricter sentencing for repeat offenders, and mental health reforms to address cases like Brown’s are gaining traction. The public’s response, evident in the thousands of X posts mourning Zarutska and Kirk, suggests a groundswell of support for tougher measures. Charlotte’s response, with Lyles promising more police on trains, shows that even Democratic and local leaders are feeling the pressure.

THE SUPREME COURT’S LEAP OF FAITH 

Iryna Zarutska’s murder and Charlie Kirk’s assassination are more than tragedies — they’re a mirror held up to America’s failures. The media’s initial silence on Zarutska, followed by their pivot to framing both her story and Kirk’s death as conservative talking points, exposes a bias that prioritizes narrative over truth. The justice system’s inability to keep a man with 14 arrests off the streets and its failure to prevent a targeted political killing reveal a dangerous leniency and vulnerability that endangers lives. And the public’s outrage underscores a hunger for accountability that transcends politics.

As the Trump administration pushes forward with its crime-fighting agenda, Zarutska’s and Kirk’s stories will likely remain touchstones. They’re a reminder that safety isn’t guaranteed, even for those who flee war or speak boldly for their beliefs. They’re a call to reform a system that lets men like Brown walk free and allows assassins to target voices like Kirk’s. And they’re a challenge to the media to report the truth, not just the stories that fit their agenda. For Zarutska’s family, Kirk’s wife Erika and their two children, and the millions who’ve watched their final moments on grainy footage, this isn’t about politics — it’s about justice. The question now is whether America will listen.

Daniel Ross Goodman is a Washington Examiner contributing writer, the author of three books, and the Allen and Joan Bildner visiting scholar at Rutgers University.