David Rouzer, Representative of North Carolina, said that the fatal stabbing in Charlotte highlights the dangers posed by lenient crime policies. He pledged to collaborate with Secretary Sean Duffy to enhance safety on public transit. The statement was made on X.
“Thank you, Secretary Duffy, for bringing attention to the tragic and deeply troubling stabbing in Charlotte,” said David Cheston Rouzer, U.S. Representative for North Carolina’s 7th Congressional District. “This horrific act underscores a larger problem, when dangerous individuals are enabled by weak, soft-on-crime policies public safety suffers. No one should feel unsafe riding public transportation funded by their own tax dollars. As a member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I will continue working with Secretary Duffy to restore law and order in our communities, especially on public transit.”
Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, was fatally stabbed on August 22, 2025, aboard Charlotte’s Lynx Blue Line by Decarlos Brown Jr., a man with at least 14 prior arrests. According to the Associated Press, Brown had convictions for armed robbery and felony larceny and was diagnosed with schizophrenia. His mother unsuccessfully sought his involuntary commitment after his release from prison in 2020. The incident has sparked debate over transit safety and the handling of repeat violent offenders.
Charlotte’s transit system has come under national scrutiny following federal reports highlighting crime rates significantly above average. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, assaults on Charlotte Area Transit System workers are now five times the national average, while crimes against riders are three times higher than average. This marks a significant increase compared to previous years when Charlotte’s crime rates were below national norms.
The U.S. Sentencing Commission reported in 2022 that longer prison terms substantially reduce recidivism rates. Offenders sentenced to more than 60 months but up to 120 months were found to be 18% less likely to reoffend than those with shorter sentences, while sentences exceeding 120 months reduced recidivism by 29%. In contrast, sentences of 60 months or less showed no significant effect on reoffending rates.
Rouzer, born in 1972, is the Republican U.S. Representative for North Carolina’s 7th district and has been serving since 2015. According to his official biography and congressional records, he previously served in the North Carolina Senate and holds degrees in agricultural business and economics from NC State University. His legislative work has focused on agriculture, economic development, and infrastructure.
