North Carolina Lawmakers Set to Question Charlotte on Crime After Rail Stabbings

The state House has called a hearing that will bring Charlotte’s top officials—mayor, police chief, sheriff and others—into the spotlight. The meeting follows two recent stabbings on the city’s light rail, one of which claimed a life. The incidents have sparked criticism from Republican legislators who feel the city’s crime‑fighting methods and budget priorities are inadequate. A House oversight panel drafted letters that highlight the city’s high‑profile violent crimes as evidence of “serious concerns” about police staffing, prosecution and overall public safety. The panel’s job is to make sure local governments that receive state money are putting residents’ security first. If the committee finds problems, it can demand more documents or threaten to cut funding—though any cuts would need approval from the full General Assembly. The first attack killed a Ukrainian refugee, Iryna Zarutska. The man charged with her death has a long record of arrests and mental‑health issues. He is currently jailed, and both federal and state courts have ordered psychiatric exams to decide whether his case can proceed. The second attack, which left a victim wounded, involved a Central American suspect who has been deported twice since 2018 for illegal reentry. He too is in custody, but his legal representation remains unclear.Republicans blame Charlotte’s Democratic leadership for a “soft‑on‑crime” stance that allowed these suspects to avoid detention. They point to the city’s failure to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, a point that has become more pressing after a recent state law now requires sheriffs to hold arrested immigrants for federal agents. The sheriff, who is up for a Democratic primary next month, has long faced accusations of not working closely enough with immigration authorities. In response to the first stabbing, city officials called it a “tragic failure” of the courts and magistrates. They have since pushed for extra safety measures on the rail system. The state has already enacted a law banning cashless bail for certain violent and repeat offenders, and it now requires more mental‑health evaluations before defendants can be released. The hearing itself was postponed while lawmakers sought guidance on what they could publicly discuss about the first suspect’s case. A federal magistrate judge had earlier blocked disclosure of details from local police or the county district attorney’s files, citing the suspect’s right to a fair trial. The upcoming session will give Republicans a chance to press for reforms they say are needed to protect North Carolina residents. Whether the city will accept new demands or defend its current policies remains to be seen.