The fatal stabbing of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska aboard a Charlotte light-rail train in August 2025 has renewed scrutiny of state prison-release policies from the administration of former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.
Republican officials are raising questions about whether DeCarlos Brown Jr., the parolee charged in the attack, was among the inmates eligible for early release under a 2021 COVID-era settlement.
Prosecutors say Brown, a repeat offender with an extensive criminal record, stabbed Zarutska while under state supervision.
Records reviewed by Fox News Digital, provided by Republican sources, show Brown’s offender identification number appeared on documents tied to the NAACP v. Cooper settlement, which set a Feb. 15, 2021, eligibility cutoff for early release or transitional programs.
State authorities, however, have not confirmed whether Brown’s inclusion on the list affected his release timeline.
According to the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (DAC), Brown completed his mandatory minimum sentence and was released on Sept. 20, 2020, before the settlement was finalized.
He began a 12-month post-release supervision period, which was reinstated on Feb. 15, 2021, following a brief arrest on Feb. 6, 2021.
The COVID-19 settlement, signed Feb. 25, 2021, allowed for retroactive inclusion of eligible offenders, which explains Brown’s appearance on the settlement list despite no changes to his custody or supervision.
Cooper, who is campaigning for Senate, has not personally commented, but his campaign has disputed claims that Brown’s placement on the list contributed to his release.
A spokesperson for his campaign told the outlet, “DeCarlos Brown was not released from prison as a result of a court-ordered settlement but in fact served his full sentence and was not released early.”
The campaign highlighted Cooper’s record as attorney general and governor, emphasizing tough-on-crime laws and stricter pretrial policies.
Despite these clarifications, Republican leaders argue the lack of a publicly released list undermines transparency.
North Carolina Senate Leader Phil Berger has called for disclosure of all individuals affected by the settlement, stressing that voters deserve to know whether violent offenders were included.
Senate candidate Michael Whatley echoed these concerns, blaming Cooper for policies he claims enabled Brown to commit murder.
“An innocent woman is dead, and her blood is on his hands,” Whatley said.
Rep. Mark Harris also cited the Zarutska case as evidence of systemic flaws in criminal justice policies under Democratic leadership.
He criticized reforms, including cashless bail and other measures he described as prioritizing offenders over victims.
The 2021 settlement, negotiated with civil rights groups such as the ACLU and NAACP, aimed to reduce COVID-19 risk in state prisons.
Officials at the time said early releases would focus on nonviolent offenders, although some inmates with extensive criminal histories were eligible.
According to WSOC-TV, oversight of prison releases now falls under the DAC following a restructuring from the Department of Public Safety.
The Zarutska case has intensified debate over criminal justice reforms, public safety, and political accountability as Cooper campaigns for federal office.
Republican leaders continue to call for full transparency regarding settlement lists and the criteria used to determine early release, citing ongoing public safety concerns.
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