President Trump is demanding a quick death for the "ANIMAL" charged with murdering 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte, North Carolina train.
Trump's call for justice comes as attorney general Pam Bondi announces federal charges against the suspect, Decarlos Brown Jr., 34. The new charges could expose Brown to the death penalty if convicted.
"The ANIMAL who so violently killed the beautiful young lady from Ukraine, who came to America searching for peace and safety, should be given a “Quick” (there is no doubt!) Trial, and only awarded THE DEATH PENALTY," Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday morning.
"There can be no other option!!!"
Harrowing surveillance video of the unprovoked attack shows Zarutska sitting down in the row in front of Brown, who minutes later stabs her three times before walking away.
Zarutska's terrified reaction to the attack has gone viral on social media, fueling public outrage and demands for justice.
President Trump began to intervene in the case after it started drawing attention on the social media platform X over the weekend.
The brutal murder has been downplayed by major liberal media outlets, which have accused people on the "MAGA" right of fixating on the slaying to push a narrative about urban crime.
Many say Zarutska's murder was made possible by liberal soft-on-crime policies that allow repeat offenders to roam free and harm innocents.
Brown has a lengthy criminal history, including 14 prior arrests, but he was nevertheless released on cashless bail months before the slaying by Magistrate Judge Teresa Stokes, who is facing calls for her removal.
Attorney general Bondi pledged that Brown will never go free again as she announced charges for causing death on a mass transportation system. He is also charged with first-degree murder in North Carolina.
“Iryna Zarutska was a young woman living the American dream — her horrific murder is a direct result of failed soft-on-crime policies that put criminals before innocent people,” said Bondi.
"I have directed my attorneys to federally prosecute DeCarlos Brown Jr., a repeat violent offender with a history of violent crime, for murder. We will seek the maximum penalty for this unforgivable crime, and he will never again see the light of day as a free man," Bondi added.
If convicted on the federal charges, Brown faces a maximum statutory sentence of life in prison or death.
“The brutal attack on Iryna Zarutska on the Charlotte Light Rail was a disgraceful act that should never happen in America. The FBI jumped to assist in this investigation immediately to ensure justice is served, and the perpetrator is never released from jail to kill again,” FBI director Kash Patel said in a statement.
“I want to thank Attorney General [Pam] Bondi for her pursuit of today’s federal charges, which are the first step toward delivering justice for Iryna and her family — as well as the millions of Americans who deserve to live in our great American cities free from being targeted by violent criminals.”
