Federal judge rules suspect incompetent, orders treatment

A federal judge ruled on Tuesday that a man accused of fatally stabbing a Ukrainian refugee on a Charlotte, North Carolina, commuter train is mentally incompetent to stand trial, ordering him into a four-month treatment program aimed at restoring his capacity to face charges.

Decarlos Brown Jr., 35, was found unable to understand the legal proceedings against him or assist in his own defense. U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell ordered Brown committed to a prison medical facility for treatment and medication. Prosecutors said the prognosis for restoring his competency is good, and a follow-up hearing will be held after the four-month period to reassess his fitness for trial.

Brown faces a federal charge of causing death on a mass transportation system, a crime that carries the potential for the death penalty. He also faces a separate state charge of first-degree murder, for which he was similarly found incompetent in April. The state case is on hold pending the outcome of the federal proceedings.

The ruling stems from the killing of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska on the night of August 22, 2025. Authorities described the attack as random, stating that surveillance video showed Brown...