Video News Clips: In Their Own Words

Chris Cuomo Mulls Whether Alleged Killer Of Ukrainian Refugee Deserves Sympathy

Screenshot/YouTube/The Chris Cuomo Project

NewsNation host Chris Cuomo on “The Chris Cuomo Project” Tuesday wondered whether Decarlos Brown, the alleged killer of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska should be considered “sympathetic.”

GoFundMe removed multiple fundraisers for Brown, who is accused of fatally stabbing Zarutska in late August, according to the New York Post. Cuomo said on his podcast that it was dumb to “defend” Brown or raise funds for him, but then suggested it was possible he should eventually be viewed as “sympathetic”

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“It was stupid to defend Brown. It’s stupid to defend and raise money for this guy. He’s, you know, the system failed him, but he’s not the sympathetic one in this,” Cuomo said. “Should he be? I don’t know. We’re not there.”

One fundraiser argued that Brown had been “failed categorically by the judicial system and the mental health services of North Carolina” and was “not entirely to blame” for the alleged stabbing, the Post reported.

Brown was a homeless ex-convict, who allegedly stabbed Zarutska in Charlotte on a light rail train on Aug. 22. The alleged killer’s mother told WSOC-TV in August that a court should not have permitted him to be free — given his mental problems and previous arrests — after he was arrested for abusing the 911 system

Brown had called 911 claiming he had received man-made material that was choosing when he ate, walked and spoke, police told the outlet.

Brown had served five years in prison for an armed robbery charge, according to WSOC-TV. After his release, Brown’s mother told the outlet “he started saying weird things.”

She also told the outlet he was diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Brown allegedly used a pocket knife to stab Zarutska three times, including at least once in her throat, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police, WBTV reported. Footage of the incident showed Brown walking through the rail car after the stabbing, stripping his red sweatshirt as passengers noticed blood dripping off him.

The alleged killer had multiple arrests spanning back to 2011, including larceny and communicating threats.

Zarutska was pronounced dead on the train. Police have not determined a motive for the alleged murder.