President Trump is remembering Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old woman murdered on a Charlotte train, while directly blaming former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper for putting her killer back on the streets.
A Violent Criminal Set Free
Speaking in North Carolina, President Trump described the man convicted of killing Zarutska as a 'violent and deranged animal with 14 prior, very, very serious and dangerous arrests.' That man, Dakarlas Brown Jr., was released from jail due to policies enacted under Cooper's watch.
"Roy Cooper also released the dangerous monster, Dakarlas Brown Jr.," President Trump said. "The only reason that the brutal monster was roaming free to kill Irene and probably other people because now they're saying probably other people too is because Roy Cooper released him from jail, released him. And it's a betrayal that can never, ever be forgotten."
Remembering Iryna Zarutska
President Trump described the horrific attack, saying Brown "stood up and violently slashed her neck, almost cut her head right off, slashed it violently and viciously." He said Zarutska likely knew she was in danger before the attack occurred.
"She looked up in that final just second of her life," President Trump said. "And she said to herself, Oh, God, what happened to me?"
He also said that video of the attack is difficult to watch. "And if you watch it to the end, which nobody should see, you wouldn't believe it," the President said. "You can see how frightened she was to be there."
President Trump said the attack was unprovoked and that Brown was a "big, strong guy" who "violently slashed" Zarutska without warning.
"She walked onto the train because she didn't want to, I don't know what it was," President Trump said. "I mean, you could see how scared she was."
A Preventable Tragedy
The President's remarks make clear that he views Zarutska's death as a direct result of criminal justice policies that allowed a repeat offender to remain free. He said that Brown "was roaming free to kill" only because Cooper had released him.
Now, as President Trump brings attention to Zarutska's story, he is making an example of a case he says represents a broader failure to keep dangerous criminals behind bars.
