A tragic murder case has taken an unexpected turn as some of the internet’s most controversial figures pledge millions of dollars to honor a Ukrainian refugee who was brutally killed on a train in North Carolina.
Iryna Zarutska, the 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee who was stabbed to death
Iryna Zarutska/Instagram
Iryna Zarutska was just 23 years old when her life was cut short in the most horrible way. The young woman had fled her war-torn homeland of Ukraine in 2022, seeking safety and a new beginning in America. She was riding a train in Charlotte, North Carolina, on 22 August when a stranger attacked her from behind, stabbing her to death in front of other passengers.
The attack was swift and brutal. Zarutska was stabbed three times in her neck and hands. She had been on the train for less than five minutes, simply trying to get home from her job at Zepeddie’s pizzeria in south Charlotte. Video footage captured the horrific moment, showing the young woman bleeding to death as bystanders failed to help her.
Decarlos Brown Jr., the 34-year-old career criminal charged with the murder
Police arrested Decarlos Brown Jr., a 34-year-old man with a long criminal history. Brown later blamed his violent actions on a mental health episode, claiming he had schizophrenia at the time of the attack. Many people were outraged that Brown had been allowed to walk free before the murder, despite his criminal background.
The case caught national attention, particularly among conservative commentators who criticized what they saw as liberal judges being too lenient on dangerous criminals. They pointed to Magistrate Judge Teresa Stokes, who had previously allowed Brown to remain free.
Elon Musk said he would donate $1million to murals
In the weeks following Zarutska’s death, an unexpected group of wealthy and controversial figures began pledging money to create murals in her memory. It started when Eoghan McCabe, the CEO of tech company Intercom, announced on social media that he would offer $500,000 in grants to paint murals of Zarutska’s face in major US cities.
McCabe’s initiative quickly caught the attention of Tesla founder Elon Musk, who pledged to donate $1 million to the cause. Musk has been sharing posts about the murder on his social media platform X, including statements from FBI Director Kash Patel calling the attack “a disgraceful act that should never happen in America.”
Here is the Andrew Tate, the internet personality who also pledged $1 million
Internet personality Andrew Tate, known for his controversial views about women, also promised to donate $1 million to the mural fund. True to his provocative online presence, Tate used Zarutska’s death to make broader political points, suggesting it should serve as a “wake-up call for females” because a female judge had allowed Brown to remain free.
he wrote on social media:
The fundraising campaign, titled “Iryna Zarutska did not ask to be a martyr,” aims to install posters and murals across the country. The fundraiser description states: “We will install as many posters and murals across this great nation as funds afford so that the important conversations her slaying provokes may perpetuate and drive much-needed change.”
So now far, the campaign has raised more than $91,000 in donations, now not counting the millions pledged by Musk and Tate. Supporters of the initiative see it as a way to ensure Zarutska’s death leads to meaningful conversations about crime and justice in America.
One supporter commented, “Hopefully, more right-wing founders and CEOs realize they need to fund these initiatives. The Democrats have their patronage system for artists and radicals, which was literally funded by the government, along with the entire college apparatus.”
However, not everyone supports the idea of spending millions on murals. Critics argue the money would be better spent helping people still suffering in Ukraine.
“Stop the virtue signaling and send the money to Ukrainian charities in her home country,” wrote one person on social media. Another added: “Why don’t you donate that money to the people in Ukraine who are under bombardment from Russian attack? Send it to orphanages, to the children who have lost their parents, send it to the elderly of Ukraine who need food, medicines & clothing because they’ve lost their homes?”
Meanwhile, a separate GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $351,000 for Zarutska’s family. This fund focuses on helping her loved ones during this difficult time, rather than on political messaging or public art.
The pizzeria where Zarutska worked posted a touching tribute to their employee: “We lost not only an incredible employee, but a true friend. Our dear Iryna left this world far too soon, and our hearts are heavy with grief. Since her passing, we have kept a candle burning in her memory – a small reminder of the warmth, kindness, and light she brought into our lives every single day.”
According to her obituary, Zarutska had graduated from Synergy College in Kyiv with a degree in Art and Restoration before coming to America. Her family described her as an adventurous young woman who loved animals and traveling. “She shared her creativity generously, gifting family and friends with her artwork,” they said.
The case has also sparked debate about media coverage, with some conservative figures claiming that mainstream news outlets tried to ignore or downplay the story. Musk highlighted what he saw as insufficient coverage by sharing a post that counted how many articles different news outlets had written about the stabbing, commenting simply: “Zero.”
The involvement of controversial figures like Musk and Tate in memorializing Zarutska has created an unusual situation where a young woman’s tragic death has become connected to broader political debates about crime, gender, and media coverage.
Some people worry that the focus on murals and political messaging might overshadow the real person Zarutska was – a young refugee who had already survived one tragedy in her homeland, only to meet a violent end while trying to build a new life in America.
As the fundraising continues and plans for the murals move forward, Zarutska’s story serves as a reminder of both the vulnerability of refugees seeking safety and the ongoing debates about criminal justice in America. Whether the millions of dollars being pledged will truly honor her memory or fuel more political arguments remains to be seen.
