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Prosecutors say Charlotte train stabbing case won’t be dismissed regardless of competency ruling

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Federal prosecutors and defense attorneys are now aligned in pushing forward a competency determination for the man accused of a brutal killing aboard a Charlotte light rail train, according to new court filings submitted Thursday.

The filings mark a significant turn in the federal case against Decarlos Dejuan Brown Jr., 34, who is charged in the 2025 stabbing death of Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee attacked on the city’s Lynx Blue Line.

A Bureau of Prisons evaluation concluded Brown is not competent to stand trial at this time after what prosecutors described as an extensive review that included interviews, medical records and direct observation over multiple sessions.

Federal officials said the evaluation also found Brown could likely be restored to competency with treatment.

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Brown’s attorneys are asking the court to formally declare him incompetent and commit him to a secure federal medical facility, arguing his mental illness leaves him unable to understand the legal proceedings, make rational decisions about his case or work with his defense team.

They point to findings from federal examiners that Brown lacks a factual understanding of the legal system and cannot assist his lawyers because of his condition.

If a judge agrees, federal law requires that Brown be transferred into the custody of the attorney general for hospitalization and treatment at a specialized facility.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT KILLER OF LAKEN RILEY WINS UNEXPECTED COURT VICTORY FOR MENTAL EVALUATION

Prosecutors said that treatment period can last up to four months initially, with additional time possible if doctors determine there is a substantial probability he can be restored to competency. They added that treatment could include medication, including involuntary medication under certain legal standards.

Even if Brown is ruled incompetent, the case would not be dismissed. Prosecutors emphasized that a finding of incompetence would not end the case but would instead trigger a process aimed at restoring Brown’s competency so proceedings can continue.

He would remain in custody and could still face trial if his condition improves. Brown is charged under a federal statute involving violence on a mass transportation system, a crime that carries the possibility of life in prison or the death penalty.

CHARLOTTE MAN CHARGED WITH IRYNA ZARUTSKA’S KILLING COULD FACE DEATH PENALTY

The federal developments come after Brown was already ruled incapable to proceed in his North Carolina state murder case, delaying that prosecution for months and drawing sharp criticism from some lawmakers.

Rep. Mark Harris, R-N.C., reacted to the earlier ruling by writing, “This is DESPICABLE. Iryna deserves JUSTICE. She was MURDERED. So why is the system FAILING her?”

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He also criticized what he described as pro-crime policies in Democrat-run cities.

CHARLOTTE LIGHT-RAIL STABBING MURDER SPURS LANDMARK CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM FROM NORTH CAROLINA REPUBLICANS

Brown is accused of carrying out a sudden and deadly attack on Aug. 22, 2025, when prosecutors say he boarded the Lynx Blue Line, sat behind Zarutska and within minutes pulled a knife and stabbed her multiple times in the neck without warning.

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Passengers fled the train as the attack unfolded. Zarutska died at the scene, and Brown was arrested shortly afterward.

Court filings describe a long history of severe mental illness, with Brown experiencing persistent delusions that a “material” inside his body was controlling his movements, something he referred to as a “Body Emergency.” His attorneys say those delusions are constant despite repeated attempts to seek help.

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The case has drawn national attention and intensified scrutiny of how the justice system handles defendants with serious mental illness, particularly in cases involving prior arrests and warning signs.

Zarutska’s death also helped prompt the passage of Iryna’s Law in North Carolina, which tightened bail rules and increased oversight of defendants considered a risk to public safety.

A federal judge will determine the issue at a competency hearing.

Fox News Digital’s Julia Bonavita contributed to this report.

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Cruise ship linked to deadly Hantavirus outbreak arrives off Tenerife as passenger evacuation begins

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The cruise ship linked to a deadly Hantavirus outbreak arrived early Sunday off the Spanish island of Tenerife, where the evacuation of passengers is expected to begin.

Passengers will be tested by Spanish health authorities to ensure they are asymptomatic before being transported ashore in small boats, Spanish officials said, according to Reuters.

Evacuation is expected to begin between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. local time, with Spanish nationals disembarking first, followed by passengers of other nationalities, Reuters reported.

They are then expected to be taken to the island’s main airport and flown back to their home countries. Multiple Americans are believed to be aboard the MV Hondius.

AMERICANS TO BE EVACUATED FROM HANTAVIRUS CRUISE SHIP AS GLOBAL HEALTH CHIEF TRAVELS TO QUARANTINE ISLAND

Fox News Digital previously reported that the U.S. government is planning to transfer American passengers to a military base in Nebraska for quarantine and monitoring.

The ship set course for Spain on Wednesday from the coast of Cape Verde after the WHO and European Union requested assistance in managing the outbreak.

The ship’s arrival comes hours after World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrived on the island.

The WHO said Friday that eight people aboard the ship had fallen ill, including three who died. Six cases have been confirmed, with two others suspected.

HANTAVIRUS DEATHS ON CRUISE SHIP HIGHLIGHT DANGERS OF RODENT-BORNE DISEASE

In a statement Saturday, Ghebreyesus said the public health risk remains low.

“I know you are worried. I know that when you hear the word ‘outbreak’ and watch a ship sail toward your shores, memories surface that none of us have fully put to rest,” he said.

“The pain of 2020 is still real, and I do not dismiss it for a single moment. But I need you to hear me clearly: this is not another COVID-19. The current public health risk from Hantavirus remains low. My colleagues and I have said this unequivocally, and I will say it again to you now,” he continued.

ARGENTINA INVESTIGATORS ZERO IN ON POSSIBLE ORIGIN POINT OF HANTAVIRUS IN DEADLY CRUISE OUTBREAK

Ghebreyesus noted that the virus identified aboard the ship is the Andes strain of hantavirus, which can be severe.

“Three people have lost their lives, and our hearts go out to their families,” he wrote, reiterating that the public health risk posed by the virus remained low.

About 30 crew members are expected to remain on board as the vessel continues to the Netherlands, where it will be disinfected.

Fox News Digital’s Robert McGreevy and Reuters contributed to this report.

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North Korea updates constitution to require automatic nuclear strike if Kim Jong Un is assassinated: report

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North Korea has updated its constitution to require a retaliatory nuclear strike if leader Kim Jong Un is assassinated, according to a report.

The Telegraph reported the change comes amid heightened global tensions following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other officials during a recent conflict.

Khamenei was killed in an Israeli strike in Tehran as part of a coordinated U.S.-Israeli military operation earlier this year, Fox News Digital previously reported.

The constitutional revision was approved during a session of North Korea’s Supreme People’s Assembly, which opened March 22 in Pyongyang, the outlet said.

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South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) briefed senior government officials this week on the update, according to the report.

The revised policy outlines procedures for retaliatory action if North Korea’s leadership is incapacitated or killed.

“If the command-and-control system over the state’s nuclear forces is placed in danger by hostile forces’ attacks … a nuclear strike shall be launched automatically and immediately,” the updated provision states.

KIM JONG UN CALLS SOUTH KOREA ‘MOST HOSTILE ENEMY,’ SAYS NORTH COULD ‘COMPLETELY DESTROY’ IT

Reuters previously reported that North Korea revised its constitution to define its territory as bordering South Korea and remove references to reunification, reflecting Kim’s push to formally treat the two Koreas as separate states.

That marked the first time North Korea included a territorial clause in its constitution.

Last month, Kim pledged to further strengthen the country’s nuclear capabilities while maintaining a hard-line stance toward South Korea, which he has called the “most hostile” state.

Kim has also accused the United States of “state terrorism and aggression,” and signaled North Korea could take a more active role in opposition to Washington amid rising global tensions.

Fox News Digital’s Alex Nitzberg and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Wings rookie Azzi Fudd sets dubious WNBA record with lowest-scoring debut by top pick

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The highly anticipated 30th WNBA season tipped off Friday with three games, including the expansion Toronto Tempo’s first-ever contest.

The action continued Saturday with a full slate, including Caitlin Clark’s return after an injury-riddled sophomore season.

Clark and the Indiana Fever hosted the Dallas Wings on Saturday afternoon in a matchup featuring the four most recent No. 1 overall picks. The Wings outlasted the Fever 107-104, but the game was defined by Azzi Fudd’s — the most recent top pick — underwhelming debut.

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Fudd played 18 minutes off the bench, scoring three points — the lowest ever by a No. 1 overall pick in a WNBA debut.

Wings coach Jose Fernandez addressed Fudd’s performance after the game, encouraging the rookie to, “Keep doing what she’s doing, it’s her first year in the league. We got five really talented backcourt players.”

EX-WNBA STAR CRITICAL OF SKY ROOKIE HAILEY VAN LITH, BELIEVES POPULARITY PLAYED ROLE IN DRAFT SELECTION

In addition to Fudd, Dallas’ backcourt features last year’s top draft pick Paige Bueckers, last season’s No. 12 overall pick Aziaha James, four-time All-Star Arike Ogunbowale and starting guard Odyssey Sims.

Until Saturday, Kelsey Plum held the record for the lowest-scoring debut by a No. 1 pick. Selected first overall by the then-San Antonio Stars in 2017, she scored just four points in her debut. The Stars relocated to Las Vegas in 2018 and was subsequently rebranded as the Aces.

Despite the slow start to her first season in the league, Plum ended the year with All-Rookie team honors. In the years since, she’s been named to four All-Star teams and won two championships with the Aces.

The Wings’ decision to take Fudd with the No. 1 overall pick drew controversy, raising questions about whether Bueckers’ personal relationship with her influenced the selection. Late last month, Bueckers said last month it did not.

“Azzi Fudd was the No. 1 draft pick because she earned it, and it had nothing to do with me and everything to do with who she is as a human being, who she is as a basketball player,” Bueckers said, according to ESPN.

Neither Bueckers nor Fudd has publicly updated their relationship status since the April draft.

“Quite frankly, I believe me and Azzi’s personal relationship is nobody’s business but our own,” Bueckers also said in April. “And what we choose to share is completely up to us.”

Next up, the Wings play their home opener on Tuesday when they host the Atlanta Dream.

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