BREAKING: Man charged in stabbing death of Iryna Zarutska faces federal death penalty

A man accused of killing a 23-year-old Ukrainian woman on a Charlotte light rail train has been indicted on federal charges that could make him eligible for the death penalty, ABC reports.

A federal grand jury in North Carolina indicted 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr. on Wednesday, charging him with violence against a railroad carrier and mass transportation system resulting in death — a crime that carries the possibility of capital punishment.

Prosecutors say Brown was captured on surveillance video stabbing the victim, identified as Iryna Zarutska, during an unprovoked attack on the Lynx Blue Line on August 22. Investigators said the two did not appear to have interacted before the attack.

According to an arrest affidavit, Zarutska boarded the train and sat in a row in front of Brown. About four minutes later, he allegedly pulled a knife from his pocket and stabbed her multiple times from behind. A witness helped police locate Brown moments later on the light rail platform, where officers arrested him.

Zarutska was pronounced dead at the scene. A pocketknife and other evidence were recovered nearby.

Court records show Brown has a prior criminal history, including robbery, larceny, and breaking and entering charges. He previously served five years in prison for armed robbery, beginning in 2015, according to the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction.

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