Man Arrested After Knife Attack on Charlotte LYNX Blue Line; Victim In Critical But Stable Condition

Stabbing Near 25th Street Light Rail Station

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) officers responded just before 5:00 p.m. Friday to reports of a stabbing near the LYNX Blue Line stop at 25th Street and North Brevard Street. One person was taken to a local hospital and is currently reported in critical but stable condition.

Suspect Apprehended

Police say officers "quickly apprehended" a suspect at the scene. He has been identified as 33-year-old Oscar Solarzano. According to the arrest warrant, Solarzano allegedly attacked the victim with a "large fixed blade knife," appeared intoxicated, and challenged the victim "to a fight" while cursing and shouting at bystanders.

Charges and Custody

Solarzano faces several charges listed in the warrant, including attempted first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon causing serious injury, breaking and entering a motor vehicle, carrying a concealed weapon, and being intoxicated and disruptive. He was interviewed by investigators and later transferred to the custody of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office. Court records note a magistrate described him as "an illegal and has been deported previously;" that language appears as written in the records. Solarzano is being held without bond and is scheduled for a court appearance on Monday.

Official Responses and Ongoing Inquiries

CMPD said it has referred additional questions to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office and CNN reported that it contacted the Department of Homeland Security for more information. CNN also said it was trying to determine whether Solarzano has legal representation.

City Safety Efforts and Context

The stabbing occurred two days after the city launched Operation Safe Season, an initiative intended to increase police presence and enforcement in areas experiencing frequent violence. On the same day as the attack, Estella Patterson was sworn in as CMPD's new chief of police. North Carolina Governor Josh Stein posted on X that he spoke with Chief Patterson about the "horrific stabbing" and asked residents to pray for the victim's recovery, adding that state agencies were assisting the local response.

Connection to Earlier Fatal Stabbing and Transit Impact

The incident rekindles concern about safety on the Blue Line following the August fatal stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska. Zarutska was killed after boarding a late-night train from Scaleybark station. The suspect in that case, Decarlos Brown, was charged with first-degree murder; court records indicate he was homeless at the time and has prior convictions, and family members have said he has a history of mental health struggles. Brown’s competency to stand trial was under evaluation by local authorities.

Transit ridership has declined since the earlier killing: local reporting showed more than a 10% drop in Blue Line ridership in September year-over-year, and Federal Transit Administration data indicated an 8% decline in light rail ridership in October.

Transit Agency Response

The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) announced updated safety protocols in early October. CATS said contractor Professional Security Services has reached full staffing on the Blue Line and that 24 off-duty CMPD officers are working alongside rail security personnel. CNN has reached out to CATS for comment about Friday’s attack.

Next Steps

Local authorities continue their investigation. Solarzano remains in custody, and his next court appearance is scheduled for Monday. Media outlets and law enforcement agencies have indicated they are seeking further information from federal and local partners.

Note: Quoted language from court records is reproduced as it appears in public documents.