A high-profile murder and rising crime rates have brought renewed focus to the policies of Mecklenburg County’s district attorney, who has emphasized racial equity.

The brutal stabbing death of a woman on a public train in August has thrust Charlotte’s crime issues into the national spotlight, prompting a re-examination of criminal justice policies that have been in place for years.

The murder of Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian immigrant, has sparked a public outcry and put renewed pressure on city and county officials, particularly Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Merriweather.

According to data reported to the FBI, violent crime in Charlotte in 2024 was 13% higher than in 2018, despite a drop in rates following a pandemic-era crime surge. This increase has coincided with the

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