CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Light rail murder suspect Decarlos Brown is not competent to stand trial on federal charges. According to new court documents filed Thursday by Brown’s defense team, federal mental health examiners determined in part that he cannot make rational decisions because of his mental illness.
Brown has also been found incompetent to stand trial on state charges.
Brown is accused of stabbing Iryna Zarutska to death on a light rail train last August.
His attorneys say a finding of incompetence does not mean he will be released from jail. Instead, he will be sent to a secure facility for treatment and if competency is restored, he will then face the criminal charges.