On August 22, 2025, a young woman who came to America for safety met a violent end on a Charlotte train.
Her name was Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee who escaped the war in her homeland only to be stabbed to death on the Lynx Blue Line.
The man accused of killing her, 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., was no stranger to police. In fact, he had been arrested 14 times before, many of those for violent crimes.
Yet time after time, he was released back onto the streets – leaving a dangerous man free to take an innocent life.
74,221 AP articles about George Floyd
0 AP articles about Iryna Zarutska pic.twitter.com/ZSb1X90OYC— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) September 7, 2025
A Justice System That Doesn’t Protect
How can someone with a rap sheet a mile long, who posed clear threats to others, still be free?
Conservatives argue that lenient judges, weak prosecutors, and soft-on-crime policies are directly responsible.
Nevadans understand this frustration well. In Las Vegas, repeat offenders are often arrested and released within hours.
In 2023, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that nearly two-thirds of felony arrests in Clark County involved suspects with prior records.
Locals have seen too many stories of criminals walking free only to strike again.
Why the Silence?
Another issue conservatives are pointing out is the lack of media coverage. While conservative outlets and commentators jumped on the story, most major networks were quiet.
Commentator @EndWokeness noted that outlets like CNN and The New York Times never even reported on the murder. They argue that if the races were reversed – a white man killing a black refugee – the coverage would have been wall-to-wall.
When the press chooses which crimes matter based on politics, the public loses faith. Nevadans saw this during the 2020 riots, when national outlets downplayed violence that residents witnessed with their own eyes.
Immigration and Broken Promises
Then there’s the heartbreaking fact that Iryna fled Ukraine looking for safety. She believed America would be a refuge.
Instead, she became the victim of a system that couldn’t keep her safe.
As British commentator Piers Morgan put it: “She escaped Putin’s bombs, only to be killed on an American train.”
America needs to make sure our communities are safe and our laws are enforced. Otherwise, the promise of America becomes a lie.
The Double Standards of “Justice”
Many conservatives also see this case as part of a larger double standard.
When ex-Marine Daniel Penny restrained a threatening man on a New York subway last year, he was charged with manslaughter. Yet when innocent people like Iryna are killed, the silence is deafening.
In other words, the system punishes people who try to do the right thing but makes excuses for violent offenders. That’s not justice. That’s politics.
A Call for Accountability
At the end of the day, conservatives are calling for one thing: accountability.
That means holding judges, prosecutors, and politicians responsible when repeat offenders are turned loose.
It means demanding a media that reports the truth, not just the stories that fit a narrative.
Here in Nevada, Gov. Joe Lombardo has pushed for stronger penalties for violent repeat offenders. But he faces constant resistance from progressives in the legislature who argue for “reform” instead of consequences.
The Zarutska case is a chilling reminder of what happens when reform turns into recklessness.
Conclusion
The murder of Iryna Zarutska isn’t just a tragedy. It’s a warning.
America cannot remain safe if violent offenders are treated like victims and actual victims are forgotten.
If we truly want to honor Iryna’s memory, the answer is clear: enforce the law, protect the innocent, and stop making excuses for criminals.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
