DeCarlos Brown Jr., the man charged in last year's Charlotte light rail stabbing, was found incompetent to stand trial, federal prosecutors said.
Brown, who is accused of killing Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a light rail train on Aug. 22, 2025, appeared in federal court Tuesday morning.
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During the hearing, Brown interrupted proceedings multiple times with outbursts, and the judge warned him to be quiet.
Federal Judge Kenneth Bell, who was presiding over the hearing, ruled that Brown did not understand the proceedings against him and would be unable to assist in his defense. However, doctors believe his mental capacity can be restored after inpatient psychiatric treatment.
The judge ordered Brown to be hospitalized for up to four months to allow professionals to evaluate Brown and determine if treatment can restore his competency to continue with his federal case. When he is released from the hospital, Brown will have another hearing to determine if he is mentally fit for trial.
Brown's lawyer filed a motion for the mental competency hearing on May 7 following an evaluation by Central Regional Hospital. The evaluation deemed Brown "incapable to proceed" in a federal trial.
The evaluation stated Brown is not competent to proceed in trial, stating the following reasons:
- Mr. Brown has a mental illness... and a mental defect;
- Mr. Brown does not have a factual understanding of the legal systrem or his legal situation because of his mental illness;
- Mr. Brown cannot make rational case-related decisions because of his mental illness; and,
- Mr. Brown cannot work with his defense attorneys because of his mental illness.
The motion stated Brown suffers from serious mental illness and impairments, saying "Brown experiences delusions that center around his belief that he was exposed to a material that controls his every movement."
The motion also stated that Brown sought medical help and made reports to police asking them to investigate "the material."
Pending the court's acceptance of mental incompetence, the federal government filed a rarely-used criminal charge instead of the previous charge of first-degree murder. The amended charge is violence against a railroad carrier and mass transportation system resulting in death. Brown still faces the death penalty if convicted of this charge.
After his next hearing, if his competency is restored, he will be taken back to jail and a date for the federal murder trial will be set.
If Brown is not restored in the four-month period, but professionals believe restoration is possible in the near future, he may remain hospitalized for an additional period of time. However, there must be an end date set by the court.
U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson said he is optimistic that Brown will eventually stand trial for the murder of Zarutska.
"I'm very hopeful to have his capacity restored," Ferguson said. "The doctor that examined him for the competency hearing today found that his prognosis for restoration is very good, so I rely on the doctors there. I think the prognosis is good and we'll see him stand trial."
Prosecutors said, if Brown refuses medication, a federal judge will seek a court order to force treatment.
Zarutska's family issued the following statement through their attorney:
"This was not unexpected. We have confidence that his capacity will be restored so he can stand trial for what he did to Iryna."
WCNC Charlotte contributed to the reporting of this article.