CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — In a troubling turn of events, police in North Carolina have charged a 33-year-old man, Oscar Solarzano, with critically injuring another person in a stabbing that occurred on a Charlotte commuter train. This unsettling incident comes only a few months after the tragic murder of Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee, during an unrelated knife attack on the same transport system.
Solarzano has been charged with attempted first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and other crimes following the Friday afternoon assault, where he was reported to have wielded a large knife. Authorities stated that the victim sustained serious injuries and is currently in critical but stable condition.
In legal proceedings, the suspect is being held without bond, with officials highlighting that he is in the U.S. illegally and had previously been deported. A magistrate judge raised concerns regarding Solarzano's intoxicated state during the attack, as he was reportedly slurring his words before challenging the victim to a fight.
This incident further amplifies concerns over safety on public transport in Charlotte. Less than four months ago, the shocking murder of Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old woman who had sought refuge from war-torn Ukraine, was captured on video and shocked the community. The suspect in her case, Decarlos Brown Jr., has been charged with first-degree murder and faced additional federal charges related to causing death on a mass transportation system.
Safety advocates are calling for increased measures to protect commuters as these consecutive incidents point to a troubling trend in violence on Charlotte’s public transportation.
Solarzano has been charged with attempted first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and other crimes following the Friday afternoon assault, where he was reported to have wielded a large knife. Authorities stated that the victim sustained serious injuries and is currently in critical but stable condition.
In legal proceedings, the suspect is being held without bond, with officials highlighting that he is in the U.S. illegally and had previously been deported. A magistrate judge raised concerns regarding Solarzano's intoxicated state during the attack, as he was reportedly slurring his words before challenging the victim to a fight.
This incident further amplifies concerns over safety on public transport in Charlotte. Less than four months ago, the shocking murder of Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old woman who had sought refuge from war-torn Ukraine, was captured on video and shocked the community. The suspect in her case, Decarlos Brown Jr., has been charged with first-degree murder and faced additional federal charges related to causing death on a mass transportation system.
Safety advocates are calling for increased measures to protect commuters as these consecutive incidents point to a troubling trend in violence on Charlotte’s public transportation.
