CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A former Charlotte City Council member criticized the city's approach to crime Monday, calling for stronger action following the deadly stabbing of a 23-year-old Ukrainian woman on the city's light rail system last month.

Tariq Bokhari, who recently left the Federal Transit Administration after a five-month stint, said in a statement that the death of Iryna Zarutska should serve as "the turning point to move us away from pretending all is well."

"Nothing made my blood boil over the last eight years in Charlotte more than our soft approach to criminals and lack of priority toward victims," Bokhari wrote.

Zarutska was stabbed to death Aug. 22 on the LYNX Blue Line by Decarlos Brown, who authorities say attacked her without provocation. Brown, who has 14 previous court ca

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