A Charlotte, North Carolina, city councilman said Tuesday that he doesn’t believe that the Trump administration should send in National Guard troops in the aftermath of the fatal stabbing of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska.
Why It Matters
Zarutska was attacked on public transit in Charlotte’s South End shortly before 10 p.m. on August 22. DeCarlos Brown Jr., 34, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, with new information linking the suspect, known by local authorities to have schizophrenia, to 14 previous arrests.
The incident has garnered widespread attention, including from President Donald Trump, who said on Monday that he had “seen the horrific video” of Zarutska being stabbed, and that “blood is on the hands of the Democrats.”
Questions about federal intervention in Charlotte come as Trump has threatened to deploy the National Guard to several major Democratic-run cities as part of a broader crackdown on crime. Trump said last week he was ready to order federal authorities to combat crime in cities including Chicago and Baltimore, drawing blowback from Democratic officials.
Charlotte’s mayor, Vi Lyles, is a Democrat
What To Know
When asked on Tuesday on Fox & Friends First whether he would endorse National Guard troops to arrive in Charlotte in response to the incident and to prevent similar future crimes, Charlotte City Council member Edwin Peacock III said, “not at this time.”
“Crime actually in Charlotte is statistically down, like it is around most of the country,” Peacock, a Republican, said. “But we do have a crime problem, and it’s been growing. This paper-thin statistic that [Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department] is holding onto…and I just know, having been in this position before, it’s just not something you can take for granted.
“If someone doesn’t feel safe in our city, statistics aren’t going to help a victim like this. You have to be serious about what you can actually do about this type of crime.”
Newsweek reached out to Peacock via email for comment.
The councilmember mentioned a “failure” in the local court system, referencing ridicule against the North Carolina judicial system over questions of how a repeat offender in Brown with documented mental health issues was able to remain free and allegedly go on to commit murder.
Brent Cagle, interim CEO of the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), said the department and police have increased patrols and personnel along the Blue Line since the stabbing, according to The Charlotte Observer.
Cagle also pointed to measures taken before the slaying, including the creation of a position, chief safety and security officer. CATS also increased spending on security this year and is working on upgrading surveillance cameras.
When Peacock was pushed back on his stance, and how a National Guard presence has led to decreased crime totals in places like Washington D.C., he said, “each city is going to be in a different situation.”
“I think Charlotte would not welcome the actual National Guard, and I don’t where you would put them,” Peacock said. “We’re going to already have a response to this immediately, and that was brought out by our mayor last night.”
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump on Truth Social on Monday: “I have seen the horrific video of a beautiful, young Ukrainian refugee, who came to America to escape the vicious War in Ukraine, and was innocently riding the Metro in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she was brutally ambushed by a mentally deranged lunatic.
“The perpetrator was a well known career criminal, who had been previously arrested and released on CASHLESS BAIL in January, a total of 14 TIMES. What the hell was he doing riding the train, and walking the streets? Criminals like this need to be LOCKED UP. The blood of this innocent woman can literally be seen dripping from the killer’s knife, and now her blood is on the hands of the Democrats who refuse to put bad people in jail, including Former Disgraced Governor and ‘Wannabe Senator’ Roy Cooper.”
“North Carolina, and every State, needs LAW AND ORDER, and only Republicans will deliver it! Additionally, where is the outrage from the Mainstream Media on this horrible tragedy? VOTE FOR MICHAEL WHATLEY FOR UNITED STATES SENATE, HE WON’T LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN!”
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, on X Saturday: “The video of the heartbreaking attack that took Iryna Zarutska’s life is now public. I want to thank our media partners and community members who have chosen not to repost or share the footage out of respect for Iryna’s family. This was a senseless and tragic loss. My prayers remain with her loved ones as they continue to grieve through an unimaginable time.
“Like so many of you, I’m heartbroken—and I’ve been thinking hard about what safety really looks like in our city. I remain committed to doing all we can to protect our residents and ensure Charlotte is a place where everyone feels safe.”
What Happens Next
The competency evaluation will determine if Brown is fit to stand trial. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 19.
