North Carolina could see its first execution in nearly two decades — possibly by firing squad — under a new law inspired by the murder of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, whose brutal death shocked the nation.
Governor Josh Stein signed “Iryna’s Law” on Friday, honoring the 23-year-old who was fatally stabbed on a Charlotte light rail train in August. Her alleged killer, Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, was caught on surveillance video in an unprovoked attack that sparked bipartisan outrage.
Under the new law, Brown could face capital punishment if convicted. Execution has been suspended in North Carolina since 2006, but House Bill 307 allows its return — potentially by firing squad — though lethal injection remains the only approved method for now.
The bill also cracks down on repeat offenders, blocking cashless bail and mandating mental health evaluations. Brown, arrested over a dozen times since 2011, never completed a psychiatric review ordered months before the killing.
Governor Stein denounced firing squads as “barbaric,” yet the law reignites a national debate. Zarutska, who fled war for safety, became a tragic symbol of justice deferred.
