CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – New video obtained this week by WBTV shows the moment that the man accused of killing Iryna Zarutska was arrested at a Charlotte light rail station last month.

On Friday, Aug. 22, Zarutska was stabbed to death on a Lynx Blue Line train at the East/West Boulevard station along Camden Road. Her family said the 23-year-old woman had recently fled to Charlotte from war-torn Ukraine.

New video shows man’s arrest

WBTV obtained surveillance video this week from the Charlotte Area Transit System (aka CATS) that was originally requested by WBTV earlier in September. The video sheds more light on the state of mind of Decarlos Brown Jr. before and after the tragic stabbing of Zarutska.

The video also shows the arrest of Brown, 34, who is accused of killing Zarutska on the light rail.

—> Related: Health records for man charged in deadly Charlotte light rail stabbing must be released, judge orders

The new video includes the moment Brown boarded a bus earlier in the afternoon, before riding it to the Charlotte Transit Center in Uptown, and transferring to the Blue Line light rail.

Brown can be seen slowly exiting the light rail cab following the stabbing, and then wandering around the station. After several minutes, Brown appears to retrieve a cigarette or another type of smoking device from his sweatshirt and brings it to his mouth a couple of times.

Moments later, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers swarmed the area and arrested Brown. A video of the arrest can be found at the top of this article.

More surveillance video obtained from CATS by WBTV last week showed Brown riding the Charlotte light rail an hour before the deadly stabbing. While on the light rail, Brown appeared to move his mouth and head in unusual ways.

He also appeared to laugh aloud to himself several times without interacting with anyone else. Click here to see that video.

23-year-old killed in August

At around 9:50 p.m. on Aug. 22, a light rail passenger stabbed Iryna Zarutska several times. Officials said she was stabbed in the throat at least one time.

Zarutska died on the light rail.

Brown was arrested soon after and charged with first-degree murder in connection with Zarutska’s killing. A federal charge was also brought against Brown earlier this month.

Brown was ordered to remain in jail and undergo a competency evaluation.

In January 2025, Brown was arrested for misuse of 911. Police officers wrote that Brown believed “someone gave him a ‘man-made’ material that controlled when he ate, walked, talked.”

Stabbing happened within minutes of Zarutska boarding

Graphic video obtained on Sept. 5 shows that the attack happened within minutes of Zarutska getting on the light rail, as officials previously reported.

At 9:46 p.m. on Aug. 22, Zarutska entered the train and sat down in front of Brown.

Brown allegedly attacked Zarutska at 9:50 p.m.

At 9:52 p.m., at least one bystander could be seen running to Zarutska to render aid.

About 30 seconds later, Brown exited the train at its next stop.

Authorities reportedly found Brown shortly after the deadly stabbing. He was taken to the hospital for a laceration on the outside of his hand, and then charged with murder after his release from the hospital.

It was not clear exactly how Brown was injured in the attack.

It was believed that Zarutska and Brown did not know each other. A motive for the stabbing was not immediately clear.