Charlotte Light‑Rail Stabbing: Oscar Solarzano Held Without Bond After Alleged Knife Attack

A judge ordered 33-year-old Oscar Solarzano held without bond following his first court appearance Monday in Charlotte after prosecutors said he stabbed a passenger aboard the LYNX Blue Line light rail.

Prosecutors told the court Solarzano has acknowledged the stabbing, though he was not formally asked to enter a plea. He faces five charges, including attempted first‑degree murder. Solarzano appeared from jail via video feed, listened with his arms folded and used a Spanish translator for portions of the hearing. His next court date is scheduled for December 30.

The Department of Homeland Security lists the suspect as Solorzano‑Garcia, while local police and court filings use the spelling Solarzano.

What Prosecutors Say Happened

According to the district attorney’s office, the incident began Friday when Solarzano boarded a LYNX Blue Line train, consumed alcohol and began shouting at other riders. Prosecutors say passenger Kenyon Dobie intervened to protect an elderly woman who was being yelled at. The DA's office says Dobie pushed Solarzano away "fearing for his safety," causing Solarzano to stumble over a seat. When Solarzano rose, prosecutors allege he produced a large knife and stabbed Dobie in the chest. Solarzano fled when the train reached the next stop and was arrested shortly afterward. Police reported he showed signs of intoxication at arrest — slurred speech, red eyes and the smell of alcohol.

“I guess it’s better off that it happened to me and not an older person,” Dobie told a local station from his hospital bed.

Background And Context

DHS officials told CNN that Solarzano was issued a final order of removal in 2018 and was deported, then removed again after a subsequent illegal reentry in 2021. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said Solarzano’s criminal record includes arrests in Florida and New Jersey dating to 2009 for alleged assault and resisting arrest, and a 2013 conviction for robbery causing bodily injury; he was resentenced in 2017 in connection with that conviction.

City and federal leaders have weighed in as the case has drawn national attention. The Trump administration cited the arrest to underscore immigration‑enforcement concerns. President Donald Trump posted on social media linking the incident to immigration issues, while local leaders have emphasized transit safety and noted immigration policy and enforcement fall outside municipal authority.

This stabbing is the second high‑profile assault this year on the LYNX Blue Line. In August, 23‑year‑old Iryna Zarutska was fatally stabbed on the same rail line in a separate case involving a different suspect, Decarlos Brown, who is a U.S. citizen and whose case has included discussions of mental‑health issues. Transit officials say the incidents are distinct but have increased scrutiny on system safety.

The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) confirmed Solarzano had been banned from transit property earlier this year; the agency is reviewing the conduct that led to that ban. After the August killing, CATS said it increased safety measures, deploying additional off‑duty Charlotte‑Mecklenburg Police officers, private security personnel and new technology and safety reporting tools.

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles urged residents that city leaders are prioritizing safety: "Everyone deserves to be and feel safe in our city, and there is no room for violence in our community," she posted on X, while adding that immigration enforcement is not handled at the city level.

The public defender’s office declined to comment at Monday’s hearing. Solarzano remains jailed without bond. Reporting for this story includes contributions from CNN staff in Atlanta and Charlotte.