Family of Iryna Zarutska files lawsuit against Charlotte, security company

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WTVD) -- The family of Iryna Zarutska has filed a lawsuit against the City of Charlotte and a security company, alleging they failed to provide adequate safety measures on the city's light rail system before her fatal stabbing.

It has been one year since Zarutska was fatally stabbed while riding a CATS light rail train. The lawsuit alleges the city and the security company were aware of violent crime occurring on and around the light rail system before her death and failed to implement adequate safety measures, including sufficient fare enforcement and staffing.

Her death reverberated through North Carolina's Ukrainian community, where many knew her as a refugee who came to the state after fleeing the war in Ukraine.

"It was a very tough news for all of us, for the Ukrainian community, because she survived the war and she just like all of us came here seeking a safe space but you know there is no more safe space anywhere in the world," said Natalia Bondarenko.

Frank Brostrom, a retired FBI agent, said maintaining security on public transit systems can require significant resources.

"Yeah, there's a higher cost to providing a security law enforcement or regular security for, you know, people jumping, you know, the turnstiles, you know, people not paying, people being on that are not that have psychological issues," Brostrom said.

DeCarlos Brown Jr. is charged with first-degree murder in connection with Zarutska's death. However, the criminal case is currently on hold after a judge ruled Brown is not competent to stand trial.

Brown had a lengthy criminal and mental health history. The case helped prompt the passage of Iryna's Law, which tightened pretrial release and bail rules for repeat offenders and expanded mental health evaluation requirements.

A year after Zarutska's death, questions remain about whether those changes will be enough to improve public safety on the transit system.

Both the city and Professional Security Services are expected to respond to the lawsuit in the coming weeks.