Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles wins Dem primary amid backlash over train stabbing

Charlotte, North Carolina, Mayor Vi Lyles secured victory in the Democratic Party mayoral primary on Tuesday, according to the New York Post, as the city continues to face backlash for the fatal stabbing of a Ukrainian refugee on a light rail train.

Iryna Zarutska, 23, was attacked late last month by Decarlos Brown Jr, a man with more than a dozen prior arrests. The stabbing appeared to be unprovoked, as graphic security footage of the attack showed Brown pulling out a knife and fatally stabbing Zarutska before leaving the scene. Brown was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, and the Department of Justice also charged him with committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system.

Lyles has faced scrutiny for her response to the attack. In an initial statement, she said the city “can’t arrest our way out of issues” such as mental health. After the release of the security footage, she issued a follow-up statement calling the attack “heartbreaking” and thanking media outlets that chose not to share the footage. 

“Like so many of you, I’m heartbroken — and I’ve been thinking hard about what safety really looks like in our city. I remain committed to doing all we can to protect our residents and ensure Charlotte is a place where everyone feels safe,” she claimed.

The murder has drawn national attention, fueling criticism from conservatives who argue Democrats are soft on crime and insufficiently tough on repeat offenders. Brown had been arrested 14 times over the past 12 years. 

On Monday, President Donald Trump referenced the killing, saying the "blood is on the hands of the Democrats who refuse to put bad people in jail." Trump has since called for the death penalty for the killer.