In brief
Police in Charlotte, NC have charged a 33-year-old man, Oscar Solarzano, with attempted first-degree murder following a stabbing incident on a commuter train, leaving the victim in critical condition. The incident highlights ongoing safety issues on public transport in the city, especially after a recent fatal attack on a Ukrainian refugee. Solarzano is currently being held without bond as he awaits court proceedings.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A 33-year-old man has been charged by police in North Carolina for critically injuring another person in a stabbing attack on a Charlotte commuter train. The incident occurred just a few months after a Ukrainian refugee tragically lost her life in a separate knife assault on the same transit system.Oscar Solarzano faces multiple charges including attempted first-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon following the Friday afternoon incident, where he allegedly used a large knife, as confirmed in a police news release.The victim sustained a serious stab wound and is currently hospitalized in critical yet stable condition. Solarzano is being held in jail without bond following a magistrate's ruling that indicated he is in the U.S. illegally and had been previously deported. A hearing is scheduled for him in Mecklenburg County District Court next Monday.An arrest warrant revealed that Solarzano appeared to be intoxicated at the time of the incident and had been aggressive, challenging the victim to a fight. There are no public records indicating that Solarzano has assigned legal representation.This incident raises concerns about safety on Charlotte's transit systems, especially after a shocking incident that occurred four months prior. A 23-year-old Ukrainian woman, identified as Iryna Zarutska, was fatally attacked in an apparently random act of violence, with the incident captured on video. Her family stated that she had fled to the U.S. to escape the ongoing war in Ukraine.The accused in Zarutska’s murder, Decarlos Brown Jr., is currently facing charges of first-degree murder in state court and has also been indicted in federal court on charges related to homicide on a public transportation system.
