Decarlos Brown Jr., the man accused of fatally stabbing a woman aboard a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been found incompetent to stand trial, a federal judge ruled on Tuesday following a brief hearing at the federal courthouse in Charlotte.
The decision came after mental health evaluators from the U.S. Bureau of Prisons concluded that Brown suffers from a serious mental illness that prevents him from understanding the legal proceedings against him and assisting in his own defence. Brown had undergone evaluation at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago, where specialists reportedly spent several hours interviewing him and reviewing audio and video recordings before submitting their recommendation to the court.
During the hearing, Brown interrupted proceedings with several outbursts, demanding to know whether the judge had reviewed the evaluation and claiming he wished to file charges against the FBI. He also made other statements, including references to having “material in his body.” As court officers escorted him from the courtroom, Brown continued shouting at the judge and referred to a letter allegedly sent by his mother.
The judge ordered that Brown remain in custody and undergo treatment and medication for up to four months in an effort to restore his competency. The court may later hold a separate hearing to determine whether involuntary medication would be constitutionally permissible if deemed necessary.
Brown, 34, faces both federal and state charges in connection with the August 2025 stabbing death of Iryna Zarutska aboard Charlotte’s Blue Line light rail service, a case that attracted national attention in the United States.
Legal analysts noted that courts rarely reject the findings of forensic mental health evaluators. Defendants found incompetent are typically transferred to psychiatric facilities for treatment and periodic reassessment.
If doctors later determine that Brown has regained competency, criminal proceedings could resume. If not, he could remain in custody under civil commitment procedures.
