She Wanted a Home Full of Kids, Pets, and Sunflowers: The Future Iryna Zarutska Envisioned but Never Saw
In the quiet suburbs of Huntersville, North Carolina, 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska was piecing together the American Dream she had fled war-torn Ukraine to chase. A gifted artist with a radiant smile and a heart full of ambition, Iryna dreamed of a life brimming with family, furry companions, and fields of her favorite flower—sunflowers, symbols of resilience and light that mirrored her own spirit. Born on May 22, 2002, in Kyiv, Ukraine, to parents Anna Zarutska and Stanislav Zarutskyi, Iryna grew up surrounded by creativity and family. She graduated from Synergy College with a degree in art and restoration, channeling her passion into sculptures, custom clothing designs, and heartfelt gifts for loved ones. But when Russia’s full-scale invasion shattered her homeland in February 2022, Iryna’s world turned upside down. Huddled in a cramped bomb shelter near her Kyiv apartment, she endured relentless bombings that forced her family to seek refuge abroad. “What motivated us to get them out of Ukraine was seeing a picture of them huddled up in a bomb shelter,” her uncle later recalled, highlighting the terror that propelled Iryna, her mother, sister Valeriia, and brother Bohdan to escape.
The journey to the United States was arduous. In August 2022, the family traveled by ground to Warsaw, Poland, before boarding their first-ever flight to America—none had left Ukraine before. They settled with relatives in Huntersville, where Iryna’s aunt Valeria Haskell and uncle Frank Scott welcomed them into a home transformed into a bustling haven for five adults, three dogs, and the newcomers. “They didn’t want to come to this country and be a burden,” her uncle explained. “They wanted to come to this country to build a new life.” Iryna quickly embraced this new chapter, learning English at a community college, enrolling in classes at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, and securing a job at Zepeddie’s Pizzeria in Charlotte. Her boyfriend, Stas Nikulytsia, even taught her to drive, a skill her family had never needed back home.
Despite language barriers, Iryna’s warmth shone through. Neighbors remember her walking their pets with a “radiant smile,” often volunteering as a pet-sitter or helping at a senior center. Her deep love for animals fueled dreams of becoming a veterinary assistant, envisioning a future home alive with children, pets, and perhaps a garden of sunflowers swaying in the breeze. As a homebody at heart, she cherished family time, adventures with friends, and simple joys like sightseeing. “She was just a very, very caring person who loved to help people,” her uncle said, noting her ambition and charm that drew admiration from all ages. Iryna had recently moved in with Stas, symbolizing her steps toward independence and the family-filled life she craved.
Tragically, that future was stolen on August 22, 2025. After a shift at the pizzeria, Iryna boarded the Lynx Blue Line at Scaleybark station in Charlotte’s South End, dressed in her work uniform. Surveillance footage captured the horror: seated in front of 34-year-old DeCarlos Brown Jr., a homeless man with a lengthy criminal record including armed robbery and mental health issues, Iryna scrolled her phone unaware. Four minutes later, Brown pulled a pocketknife from his hoodie and stabbed her three times from behind, including in the neck. She clutched her wounds as blood pooled on the floor, collapsing without immediate aid from nearby passengers. Brown was arrested on the platform, charged with first-degree murder and later a federal count for the act on mass transit.
The unprovoked attack, captured on video and released publicly, ignited national outrage. Charlotte officials, including Mayor Vi Lyles, decried systemic failures in the justice and mental health systems that allowed Brown—previously released on lenient terms—back on the streets. President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and others commented, with the case fueling debates on urban crime, transit safety, and immigration. In Ukraine, the response was muted, viewing it as a U.S. domestic issue, though President Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid tribute at the UN. Iryna’s family, heartbroken, emphasized her pursuit of peace: “She came here to find peace and safety,” her lawyer stated.
Her funeral at James Funeral Home in Huntersville drew a small crowd, live-streamed for her father, trapped in Ukraine by wartime restrictions on men aged 18-60—though later reports clarified he visited briefly to say goodbye. Family members eulogized her kindness, creativity, and “heart of gold,” with her sister praising Stas. The family declined Ukraine’s offer to repatriate her remains, choosing burial in America—a testament to her love for her adopted home. Vigils at the East/West Boulevard station featured sunflowers and daisies, honoring her vibrant spirit.
Iryna’s story transcends tragedy; it’s a poignant reminder of dreams deferred. She escaped bombs for safety, only to meet violence on a routine commute. Her uncle urged remembrance of her contributions: babysitting, dog-walking, and unyielding optimism. As sunflowers bloom in memorials, they echo her legacy—turning toward light amid darkness. Iryna’s envisioned home of laughter, pets bounding through rooms, and golden petals may never materialize, but her kindness endures, inspiring calls for justice reform and safer streets. In a world quick to politicize pain, her family pleads: focus on the beautiful life she lived, not the ugly end.
