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Charlotte death-penalty decision in light-rail stabbing case pushed to 2027
A state hearing on whether prosecutors will seek the death penalty for DeCarlos Brown has been postponed until May 2027. The case is on hold while Brown remains in federal custody and a judge has found him unable to stand trial for now.
A North Carolina state-court hearing on whether prosecutors will seek the death penalty against DeCarlos Brown has been delayed until May 2027, leaving the case’s next steps dependent in part on proceedings in federal court.
Brown was scheduled to appear in state court Tuesday, Oct. 27, for the hearing. He is charged in the stabbing death of Iryna Zarutska on Charlotte’s light rail last year. The charge is an allegation; the case has not gone to trial.
State proceedings will not move forward while Brown is in federal custody, according to the information provided about the case. In federal court, a judge has found Brown incapable of standing trial until doctors can help restore his mental capacity.
The May 2027 date sets a new point for the state case, but the federal court’s assessment of Brown’s capacity remains a key factor in when the proceedings can continue.