Fundraisers Removed for Suspect in Ukrainian Refugee Murder

Online fundraising efforts initiated to support Decarlos Brown Jr., the man accused of killing a Ukrainian refugee in North Carolina, have been taken down following widespread backlash. The pages falsely claimed that Brown, a homeless individual with a lengthy criminal record, was a victim of systemic racism and neglect, and sought financial aid for his legal defense.

One fundraiser highlighted Brown’s history, which includes at least 14 arrests, and suggested that he was failed by the justice and mental health systems, implying he was not solely responsible for his actions. The campaign aimed to raise $35,000 but only managed to gather $5 before being removed. The organizers urged donations to combat what they described as racial bias and injustice.

The controversy erupted after graphic surveillance footage surfaced, showing Brown pulling out a pocket knife and violently attacking 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee. The video depicted the brutal stabbing that left the train car blood-soaked, sparking public outrage.

Following the emergence of this evidence, social media users widely condemned the fundraisers, prompting the platform hosting them to remove the pages. In a statement, the fundraising site reiterated that such campaigns violate their policies, which prohibit raising money for legal defenses of individuals charged with violent crimes. Donors to the now-removed campaigns have been refunded.

Brown, with a criminal record spanning back to 2014, faces charges of murder related to Zarutska’s death. Authorities continue their investigation into the incident, which has cast a spotlight on the issues surrounding homelessness, mental health, and criminal justice.