CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The North Carolina chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations is calling on federal authorities to investigate the murder of a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee as a possible hate crime, citing video evidence that the alleged suspect made comments about the victim's race and gender.

Iryna Zarutska was stabbed Aug. 22 on the Lynx Blue Line light rail. The Charlotte Area Transit System recently released surveillance footage that showed the attacker, Decarlos Brown Jr., stabbing Zarutska multiple times. In the footage, it reportedly shows Brown pacing through the train twice, saying, "I got that white girl," according to CAIR-NC.

Loved ones said Zarutska, who recently fled Ukraine to escape the war's dangers, came to Charlotte seeking peace and new beginnings.

Thi

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