CHARLOTTE — The man charged with stabbing Iryna Zarutska on the Charlotte light rail last year will not proceed any further in state court while he is in federal custody.
DeCarlos Brown was scheduled to be in court on Tuesday to find out if the state would pursue the death penalty against him.
That hearing is now delayed until May 2027, but much hinges on what happens in federal court.
Decarlos Brown's Rule 24 hearing has been moved to May 4, 2027.
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) October 27, 2026
He was scheduled to be in court in Mecklenburg County today to find out if the state would pursue the death penalty.
But he remains in federal custody so the hearing can't happen.
In that case, a judge has found him incapable of standing trial until doctors can help restore his mental capacity.
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