Decarlos Brown Jr. has been charged with a federal crime in connection with the fatal stabbing of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska aboard a North Carolina commuter train.

The attack, which appeared random and was captured on video, has raised questions about public safety and the handling of repeat offenders.

Brown, who had 14 prior criminal arrests, faces a federal charge that could result in the death penalty.

The incident has sparked a broader debate over crime policies in Democratic-led cities and the adequacy of mental health services, The Guardian has reported.

Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee, had been living in a bomb shelter before seeking a safer life in the U.S.