The killing of 23‑year‑old Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light‑rail train has prompted renewed questions about a 2021 COVID‑era prison‑release settlement negotiated while Roy Cooper was governor. Republican officials say records they supplied to media show offender identification numbers tied to the settlement and that one number appears to correspond to the suspect, DeCarlos Brown Jr. Cooper’s campaign denies Brown was released under the agreement and defends his public‑safety record, while GOP leaders demand the state publish the list of people affected. Key facts — including whether Brown was actually released or transitioned under the settlement — remain unconfirmed by state authorities.
GOP Alleges Charlotte Rail Murder Suspect Appeared On 2021 Prison‑Release List Approved Under Roy Cooper
Charlotte rail murder suspect linked to inmate release approved under ex-Dem governor, GOP alleges
The fatal stabbing of 23‑year‑old Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light‑rail train has renewed scrutiny of a 2021 COVID‑era prison‑release settlement negotiated during former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s administration. Republican officials say records they provided to media appear to link the accused, DeCarlos Brown Jr., to documents tied to that settlement, which authorized the early release or transition of roughly 3,500 people.
Republican Michael Whatley, left; Democrat Roy Cooper, right.(Getty Images)
Records and Allegations
Records reviewed by Fox News Digital and supplied by Republican sources include offender identification numbers associated with the NAACP v. Cooper settlement and reference the settlement’s eligibility cutoff date of Feb. 15, 2021. One of the identification numbers in those records reportedly corresponds to DeCarlos Brown Jr. State officials have not publicly confirmed whether Brown was actually released or transitioned under the settlement, and no official roster of the approximately 3,500 people affected has been published.
Fletcher Harris and Skylar Provenza are shown in a photo at left, alongside a booking photo of Juan Alvarado Aguilar, who authorities said was involved in a DUI crash that killed the pair.
Charges and Case Details
Prosecutors allege Brown — described in court filings as a repeat offender with an extensive criminal history — stabbed Zarutska aboard a Charlotte light‑rail train while under state supervision. Brown has been charged in Zarutska’s killing and is currently facing prosecution; other local and national political figures have referenced the case while criticizing state criminal‑justice policies.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper speaks at a press conference in Charlotte, N.C., on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, regarding the shooting that killed several officers and wounded others during an attempt to serve a warrant on Monday.
Responses From Cooper’s Campaign And GOP Leaders
The Cooper campaign denied the GOP’s allegations and said Brown was not released under the settlement. A campaign spokesperson told media, “These attacks are false,” and emphasized Cooper’s record as attorney general and governor on prosecuting violent criminals and supporting tougher pretrial policies.
Republican leaders — including North Carolina Senate leader Phil Berger, state GOP Chair Michael Whatley and members of the NRSC — have called for full transparency and released statements directly tying the settlement and other criminal‑justice decisions to public‑safety concerns. Their remarks include calls for the state to publish the list of individuals affected by the settlement so voters can review who was released and why.
Related Cases And Broader Political Fallout
Lawmakers and conservative groups have also referenced a separate fatal crash case involving Juan Alvarado Aguilar to criticize Cooper’s record on criminal justice and immigration enforcement. Critics point to dismissed or unresolved charges in Aguilar’s history and to county‑level prosecutorial decisions as evidence of systemic problems, while Cooper’s supporters and his campaign dispute those broad claims and defend his public‑safety record.
What Remains Unclear
Key facts remain unresolved: the state has not released an official list of the people covered by the 2021 settlement, and North Carolina authorities have not publicly confirmed whether Brown was among those transitioned or released. The Department of Adult Correction now oversees releases after a state restructuring, and Fox News Digital says it has reached out to the department and civil‑rights groups involved in the settlement for comment.
Note: This article summarizes allegations and responses reported by media and statements from political officials. Prosecutors have charged DeCarlos Brown Jr. in the killing of Iryna Zarutska; allegations linking him to the 2021 settlement are based on records provided to media by GOP sources and have not been independently confirmed by state officials.
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