Iryna Zarutska's family demands justice in first statement since 'horrific' stabbing

The family of Iryna Zarutska has issued a message for the first time since their loved one was brutally killed on a North Carolina light rail train demanding justice and sweeping general safety reforms In a comment shared through their attorney the family described her as a kind and hardworking young woman deeply loved by her family and friends The family disclosed they are devastated by her sudden loss and want the man accused of killing the -year-old to remain behind bars CHARLOTTE MAYOR SCORES PRIMARY RE-ELECTION PREEMINENCE AMID NATIONAL BACKLASH OVER GRUESOME TRAIN MURDER We are heartbroken beyond words Iryna came here to find peace and safety and instead her life was stolen from her in the the bulk horrific way the message reads No family should have to go through this They revealed their immediate priority is ensuring accountability for Zarutska s murder and stressed the development underscores a larger dilemma in society safety This could have been anyone riding the light rail that night We are committed to making sure this never happens again Zarutska a refugee from Ukraine was heading home from her job at a pizzeria when Decarlos Brown Jr a man with a history of mental illness and more than a dozen arrests fatally stabbed her in a random attack gruesome surveillance footage shows The ruthless killing has shocked the nation and fueled further criticism of blue-city policies that critics argue are soft on crime Brown has a history of mental illness and was arrested times over the past years according to police records He was arrested soon after the stabbing and charged with first-degree murder with the Department of Justice on Tuesday charging Brown with an additional count of committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HITS CHARLOTTE TRAIN STABBING SUSPECT WITH FEDERAL CHARGESThe Zarutska family kept their announcement focused on transit precaution calling for a full assessment into probable lapses in safety protocols and failures within the Charlotte Area Transit System CATS They mentioned her murder highlights a systemic breakdown in transit safeguard and pointed to a lack of visible or effective measure on the Blue Line failures of oversight in the contract between CATS and its private shield provider and the absence of safety measures that they announced could have prevented the attack The Zarutska family called on Charlotte city leaders to publicly address transit defense failures and enact reforms They also want advocates and allies to join them in demanding justice and long-term change CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPZarutska had fled war for safety and opportunity in the United States and had been building a new life in Charlotte working at a pizzeria and studying English at district college That night she texted her boyfriend that she would be home soon the comment reads Tragically her journey ended in violence near the Camden light rail station Her loved ones became alarmed when she did not arrive to her apartment at the anticipated time and her phone s location alerted them that she was still at the station Upon arriving at the station they were devastated to learn that Iryna had died at the scene The family also urged the general and media to respect Zarutska s dignity and their grief by not reposting or circulating the footage of her killing