Latest update on legislation that might lead to the execution by firing squad of the murderer of a Ukrainian refugee
- Pilipina Flores Carandang
- Oct 7
- 3 min read
Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old refugee, was stabbed in what seemed to be an unprovoked attack while on the train
A new law may result in the suspected murderer of a Ukrainian refugee facing the death penalty by firing squad.
On August 22, Iryna Zarutska was stabbed to death by a stranger while traveling on a train in North Carolina.
Decarlos Brown Jr. is accused of murdering the 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee in the unprovoked attack.
Disturbing video footage shows Brown sitting behind Iryna before allegedly pulling out a knife and stabbing her multiple times.
Police arrested the 34-year-old, who reportedly suffers from mental health issues and schizophrenia, just minutes later at the next stop. He has since been charged with first-degree murder.
The shocking case has captured headlines worldwide and has drawn attention from President Donald Trump himself, who stated that the killer deserves nothing less than the death penalty.
It now seems that this could become a reality if Brown is convicted of the brutal killing with the introduction of a new piece of legislation.
House Bill 307, known as 'Iryna's law', was overwhelmingly approved by both chambers of the Tar Heel State's Legislature on Friday (October 5) and was subsequently signed by North Carolina's Democratic Governor Josh Stein.
The bill seeks to amend the law to allow the state to resume capital punishment, including methods such as firing squad and the electric chair.
Currently, lethal injection is the only authorized method, and the state has not carried out any executions since 2006.
Legal actions have consistently claimed that the courts have effectively imposed a de facto moratorium, temporarily halting the death penalty from being enforced.
However, 'Iryna's law' aims to circumvent these legal obstacles and mandates that death penalty appeals be addressed within two years of their filing.
According to WCNC, there are currently 122 inmates on death row in North Carolina.
The reform also imposes stricter bail conditions for individuals suspected of violent crimes, banning cashless bail and restricting judges' authority over pretrial release.
Mental health assessments will also be increased as a requirement for defendants, potentially becoming mandatory if a suspect charged with a violent crime has been involuntarily committed within the past three years.
This change follows reports that Brown was arrested and released multiple times before allegedly taking Iryna's life.
He was taken into custody in January for 'misuse of the 911 system', during which he reportedly claimed that 'man-made' materials inside him were controlling his body.
Brown was reportedly 'upset' by the police response and made another 911 call while officers were still present, leading to charges. However, he was not detained and was released the same day.
His family believes Brown 'shouldn't have been released' after the incident.
Gov. Stein mentioned in a video statement regarding the new bill that it 'alerts the judiciary to take a special look at people who may pose unusual risks of violence before determining their bail'.
"That’s a good thing and why I have signed it into law."
He also stated that there will be 'no firing squads in North Carolina while I am governor'.
During custody, the suspect reportedly told his sister over the phone about the incident, saying: "I hurt my hand, stabbing her. I don't even know the lady.
"I never spoke a word to the lady at all. That's frightening, isn't it? Why would someone stab a person for no reason?"
He also urged the police to examine the 'materials' he believes are within him and 'controlling' him, saying 'they just lashed out on her'.
"Now they really need to investigate what my body was exposed to," the recording continued. "Now they have to look into who was behind what happened."
Iryna and her family moved to the US in 2022 to escape war-torn Ukraine.
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