Murder on Public Transit

Around 28 million people in the U.S. are 'transit dependent,' meaning they use a bus, train, or other public transit system to travel from one destination to another without another source of reliable transportation readily available to them. In 2023, U.S. public transit agencies provided those individuals 6.9 billion trips, traveling over 35 billion miles. 

Since 2022, crimes on public transit have increased, with violent acts like robbery and assault occurring nearly three times more frequently than just five years ago. The MBTA, the Los Angeles public transit system, and the New York subway have a higher number of violent incidents each year than facilities in other cities.

Fatal Stabbing of Iryna Zautska

On August 22, 2025, Iryna Zautska was fatally stabbed as she rode aboard the Lynx Blue Line Light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina. A 14-time felon named DeCarlos Brown allegedly attacked her without provocation. He was arrested as he exited the train.

The rail system surveillance camera caught the entire attack.

Iryna was a 23-year-old Ukrainian immigrant who fled to the U.S. to escape violence in her home country. She worked at a pizza place and helped out at a senior citizens' center.

"At approximately 21:50 hours, Brown pulled a knife from his pocket and unfolded the knife before striking the victim three times from behind," the FBI complaint says. "Following the attack, suspected blood can be seen dripping onto the floor as Brown walked away from the victim."

Brown Jr. has been charged on both the state and federal levels. He is currently in jail awaiting trial. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/suspect-fatal-north-carolina-train-stabbing-ukrainian-refugee-charged-rcna230171 

2014 Taipei Metro Stabbing Spree

The 2014 Taipei Metro stabbing spree was an incident carried out by Cheng Chieh on May 21. The incident occurred between Longshan Temple and Jiangzicui Stations when Chieh fatally stabbed four people and injured 24 others with a fruit knife.  It was the first fatal assault since the station opened in 1996. Chieh was sentenced to death and executed in 2016.

Racially Motivated Stabbing on Portland, OR, Light Rail

On May 26, 2017, Jeremy Joseph Christian fatally stabbed two men and wounded a third aboard a Portland MAX light rail train. The attack was racially motivated; Christian had harassed two Black teenagers, Walia Mohamed and Destinee Mangrum, before fatally stabbing Ricky John Best and Taliesin Mydrddin Namka-Meche. Micha David Cole-Fletcher also sustained severe stab wounds but survived his injuries.

Stabbing of 18-Year-Old Nia Wilson

Nia Wilson and her sisters, Letiah and Tashiya, deboarded a BART train at the MacArthur Station in Oakland, California, on July 22, 2018, when a man wielding a knife attacked them. Later identified as John Howell, the man slashed 18-year-old Nia's throat and stabbed Letifah, who survived. Tashiya was not harmed. 

Howell was caught and arrested the following day. He was later convicted of murder and other charges and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

We are never entirely free of danger when in public. It's essential to always be aware of our surroundings, especially while on public transportation. Even then, we can only do so much if a crazed person unleashes their fury. My heart goes out to those mentioned in this story and others affected by violence on a transit system.

My deepest sympathy to everyone affected by senseless tragedy.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Follow me on Facebook @CriminalMattersPage if you can't get enough true crime!