Video News Clips: In Their Own Words

CNN Panel Can’t Wrap Their Heads Around Why Killer Of Ukrainian Refugee Should Have Been Locked Up

[Screenshot/CNN]

CNN panelists aggressively rejected the idea that DeCarlos Brown, the killer of a Ukrainian refugee in Charlotte, North Carolina, should be institutionalized for life for his mental illness and lengthy criminal record.

The liberal panelists argued that Brown had already served time for his 14 prior convictions and should not be locked up for the rest of his life, despite evidently being a public safety risk. A shouting match ensued on “CNN NewsNight” as National Review columnist Caroline Downey pointed out that a schizophrenic with a recurring criminal record should never be allowed to freely roam the streets.

“He served time for his violent offenses in the past,” host Abby Phillip said.

“Not for his schizophrenia,” Downey replied. “I’m saying that was compounding this entire issue, the fact that he lashed out violently on that train.”

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Phillip failed to mention that North Carolina Magistrate Judge Teresa Stokes released Brown without bail in January and simply handed him a “written promise” to show up to court. Following his release, Brown continued to act aggressively, which led his mother to kick him out of her house. His own mother did not want her son to be released onto the streets because of his mental health and violent behavior.

The panelists raged at Downey for arguing that Brown’s schizophrenia attributed to his erratic and violent behavior. She stated that his repeated criminal behavior suggested that he should have been “locked away” in a mental institution for life.

“He was threatening the public. He was a menace to society,” Downey said, leading to pushback from Phillip.

“You actually said that. I can’t believe you actually said that somebody should be locked away in jail forever for schizophrenia. Did you really say that?” Keith Boykin, a former Clinton-era White House aide said.

“You’re saying that this man should have been roaming the streets, that is your position?” Downey said, while having to repeatedly clarify that Brown should be placed in an institution.

Downey said that the alternative to not institutionalizing people like Brown is to allow innocent people to get murdered in public.

Brown was charged with fatally stabbing 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a light rail train with a pocket knife and could be heard muttering that he “got that white girl.” Security footage showed bystanders simply remaining in their seats as Zarutska bled out and died.

Federal prosecutors charged Brown on Tuesday with one count of committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment or possible death.