Warning: the following article contains graphic imagery which some readers may find disturbing.
Donald Trump has sparked major outrage over his shocking response to the murder of a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee who was attacked late last month on a light rail in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Police have stated that Iryna Zarutska was fatally stabbed while travelling on the Lynx Blue Line near the Camden Road area in Charlotte's South End shortly before 10 p.m. on 22 August, but video footage showing the moments leading up to the incident was released just a few days ago on Friday (5 September).
In the video, the suspect can be seen looking restless and making faces while sitting behind Zarutska who was looking down at her mobile phone. After a few minutes, the suspect stood over Zarutska before allegedly stabbing her in the neck from behind with a folding knife.
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Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) released the video showing Zarutska seated as she was repeatedly stabbed from behind. She was pronounced dead at the scene, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) said, while Brown Jr., who has a prior criminal history that includes robbery and larceny convictions, was taken to the hospital for treatment due to a hand injury.
No motive in the stabbing has been revealed by investigators.
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Trump was asked about the heinous murder on Sunday (7 September) where he said he hadn't heard about it, adding that it was 'horrible' and that he would 'know all about it by tomorrow morning'.
Taking to Truth Social on Monday (8 September), the 79-year-old Republican penned: "I have seen the horrific video of a beautiful, young Ukrainian refugee, who came to America to escape the vicious War in Ukraine, and was innocently riding the Metro in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she was brutally ambushed by a mentally deranged lunatic."
He continued: "The perpetrator was a well known career criminal, who had been previously arrested and released on CASHLESS BAIL in January, a total of 14 TIMES. What the hell was he doing riding the train, and walking the streets? Criminals like this need to be LOCKED UP.
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"The blood of this innocent woman can literally be seen dripping from the killer’s knife, and now her blood is on the hands of the Democrats who refuse to put bad people in jail, including Former Disgraced Governor and 'Wannabe Senator' Roy Cooper."
Trump concluded the shocking post, declaring: "North Carolina, and every State, needs LAW AND ORDER, and only Republicans will deliver it! Additionally, where is the outrage from the Mainstream Media on this horrible tragedy?
"VOTE FOR MICHAEL WHATLEY FOR UNITED STATES SENATE, HE WON’T LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN!"
Many have since taken to social media to slam Trump for turning the heartbreaking tragedy into something he could use for political gain, with one X user hitting out: "A tragedy weaponised into politics again."
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"He somehow used this incident for his political benefit, that's crazy," lamented another, while a third penned: "He has to use her death for political purposes. Y'all are going to hell."
Zarutska's death comes after Trump's threats to deploy the National Guard to several major Democratic-run cities in what his administration has dubbed a 'crackdown on crime'.
Just last week, he claimed he was ready to order federal authorities to combat crime in Chicago and Baltimore.
He made such declarations despite opposition from elected leaders and many residents alike in both major cities.
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Such threats also come amid Trump's involvement in the ongoing scandal involving the investigation of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, News, Ukraine, Russia, Social Media
Rhiannon Ingle