$3.3M Jail Reduction Grant Fuels Outrage After Charlotte Murder

Liberal Foundation Gave County Wracked by Murder Scandal $3 Million to ‘Reduce Jail Population’

Left-leaning organization gave Mecklenburg County a $3.3 million grant to reduce jail population as Charlotte reels from viral train stabbing death

Published September 9, 2025

A liberal foundation gave the county that is the site of a gruesome and controversial murder $3.3 million to reduce its jail population, sparking further outrage as public scrutiny intensifies on the city of Charlotte.

The troubling development came as it was revealed that the alleged assailant in a gruesome stabbing that resulted in the death of a 23-year-old female was out on cashless bail despite a record of violent criminal activity and 14 arrests.

Decarlos Brown Jr, 34, is seen in a viral video stabbing a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee unprovoked in a case that has fueled outrage and controversy, highlighting the failures of a criminal justice system that people are saying should have kept Brown behind bars.

The $3.3 million grant to the county was reportedly used to reduce the jail population in furtherance of “racial equity aims”. (RELATED: Judge Refuses to Dismiss Dugan Charges)

Another factor in the death of Iryna Zarutska on Charlotte's light rail–the left-wing MacArthur Foundation giving Mecklenburg county a $3.3 million grant to reduce the jail population. Specifically as part of "racial equity aims.

Like Soros' Open Society, the MacArthur… pic.twitter.com/0J0G52iZKT
— Megan Basham (@megbasham) September 9, 2025

After receiving the grant, the county touted that it had reduced its jail population by 11 percent between 2014 and 2017 and had plans to reduce it even further.

“While these numbers are worthy of celebrating, Mecklenburg County’s Department of Criminal Justice Services continues to search for ways to reduce the use of incarceration for defendants.”

The newly released development could put county officials under scrutiny as Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles’ issued an initial statement that drew outrage for failing to mention the victim of the murder and saying that the city will never ‘arrest its way’ out of issues such as homelessness.

Lyles quickly reversed course three weeks after the issue drew national attention and blamed courts for failing to keep repeat offenders like Brown incarcerated.

“Our police officers arrest people only to have them quickly released, which undermines our ability to protect our community and ensure safety,” Lyles said in her subsequent statement. “We need a bipartisan solution to address repeat offenders who do not face consequences for their actions and those who cannot get treatment for their mental illness and are allowed to be on the streets.”