Here\u2019s everything you need to know about the case \u2014 and the reaction to it.<\/p>\n
What happened on the train<\/h2>\n
CCTV footage shows that Zarutska boarded a Lynx Blue Line train late Saturday night at the Scaleybark station, a few miles outside downtown Charlotte in the city\u2019s lively South End neighborhood. Her blonde hair was tucked under a cap from Zeppedie\u2019s Pizzeria, the nearby restaurant where she worked. She was also wearing a black Zeppedie\u2019s T-shirt. She sat in an empty row and started to scroll on her phone, earbuds in.<\/p>\n
Brown, 34, was sitting behind her.<\/p>\n
Four minutes later, a fidgety Brown pulled what appeared to be a pocketknife from the pocket of his red hoodie and paused briefly to rest his head on his hand, before suddenly springing to his feet and swinging his arm over Zarutska\u2019s seat.<\/p>\n
Brown reportedly stabbed Zarutska three times, including at least once in the neck. He walked past Zarutska as she covered her face with her hands. Moments later, she slouched to the ground.<\/p>\n
Zarutska died on the train from her injuries as passengers kneeled over her, trying to help. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has charged Brown with first-degree murder in her killing.<\/p>\n
The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS)\u00a0confirmed<\/a>\u00a0earlier this week that there was no security present in the car where the attack occurred and that Brown did not have a ticket to ride the train.<\/p>\n Zarutska was born on May 22, 2002, in Kyiv, Ukraine. She earned a degree in art and restoration from Kyiv\u2019s Synergy College. Zarutska fled Ukraine with her mother, sister and brother six months after Russia\u2019s 2022 invasion; a family friend told\u00a0WCNC<\/a>\u00a0that she could no longer endure not knowing \u201cif you\u2019re going to live or breathe another day.\u201d Zarutska eventually settled in Charlotte, where she attended Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and hoped to become a veterinary assistant.<\/p>\nWhat we know about Zarutska<\/h2>\n