Undocumented immigrant arrested after latest stabbing on Charlotte light rail: Everything to know
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – A person was stabbed on a Charlotte light rail train for at least the second time in the past three and a half months this past week.
The most recent stabbing happened just before 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5, on a Charlotte Area Transit System, or CATS, train traveling along North Brevard Street, just outside Uptown near Optimist Hall.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers were called to the light rail and quickly arrested the suspect, 33-year-old Oscar Solarzano. Police said soon after the stabbing that the victim was left in “critical but stable condition.”
Solarzano was interviewed by detectives and was arrested after the interview. He was taken to the Mecklenburg County jail and was charged with the following offenses:
- Attempted first-degree murder
- Assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury
- Break/enter a motor vehicle
- Carrying a concealed weapon
- Intoxicated and disruptive
Records showed that Solarzano was initially denied bond by a magistrate — a decision that was upheld in court on Monday, Dec. 8.
The Dec. 5 stabbing came less than four months after 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska was brutally stabbed to death on a CATS train by a seemingly unprovoked attacker.
Stabbing happened amid argument
An affidavit gave details as to what led up to the Dec. 5 stabbing. The document said Solarzano was drinking alcohol on the train and “began yelling” before another passenger told Solarzano to “stop yelling and leave everyone alone.”
The affidavit said Solarzano then drank more and walked over to the victim and started arguing with the victim.
During the argument, the affidavit said the victim pushed Solarzano away. After that, Solarzano allegedly pulled out “an extremely large fixed-blade knife” and plunged it into the victim’s chest.
The affidavit said Solarzano ran from the train at the next station, and by the time police caught up to him, he had “red glassy eyes, slurred speech and an extremely strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath.” Once in custody, the affidavit said he admitted to drinking “a large amount” of alcohol and to stabbing the victim.
A person was critically hurt after they were stabbed on a Charlotte light rail train on Dec. 5.(WBTV)
New safety initiative launched day before stabbing
One of the first actions taken by newly sworn-in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Estella Patterson was the launching of the new multi-agency “Operation Safe Season” public safety initiative.
The operation was said to have an initial focus on Uptown, and was “designed to significantly increase police presence and enforcement,” a news release said. The department did say it planned to expand the operation outside of Uptown.
“Operation Safe Season is about ensuring that Charlotte is a safe and welcoming place for everyone who lives, works and visits here,” Chief Patterson said in the release.
According to the Dec. 4 release, violent crime across all of Charlotte was down 20% from Jan. 1-Nov. 30, 2025 when compared to the same period in 2024. Violent crime was up, though, 15% in the police department’s Central Division, which is Uptown.
Governor calls latest stabbing ‘horrific’
North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein was one of several political leaders that shared statement regarding Friday’s stabbing.
The governor called the case “horrific” and said he was praying for the victim to have a full recovery.
“I am pleased that Chief Patterson was already surging law enforcement throughout Charlotte with Operation Safe Season, and I am grateful to the state law enforcement agencies that are assisting,“ Stein wrote on X. ”Public safety is a top priority for us all.”
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles also released a statement.
“Everyone deserves to be and feel safe in our city, and there is no room for violence in our community,” Lyles’ statement read. “There are several aspects of public safety that are outside of the city’s jurisdiction, including immigration policy and enforcement, but we will continue to focus on public safety and ensuring a safe and vibrant community.”
Meanwhile, CATS interim CEO Brent Cagle said in his own statement that the transit system has taken a “proactive and robust” safety approach since the Iryna Zarutska stabbing in August. He said more off-duty police officers and private security were utilized, along with new technology and safety reporting tools.
“Violence has no place in our community, including on public transit,” Cagle’s statement read in part. “Individuals who believe public transit can be used as an area to settle grievances through violent altercations are not welcome on our system. We will continue to work with our partners at CMPD as well as our private security team to ensure everyone rides appropriately on public transit. We will not compromise on the safety of our customers and employees.”
Separately, Cagle told WBTV that Solarzano was banned from using CATS transportation in October 2025.
Solarzano was in US illegally, per records
Records associated with last week’s arrest indicate Solarzano was not in the United States legally.
The initial bond sheet revealed he was undocumented and said he “has been deported previously.”
More case records showed he Solarzano was also being held on an ICE detainer following the arrest. The detainer confirmed that Solarzano re-entered the U.S. after a prior deportation, and said he “poses a risk to national security, border security, or public safety.”
His immigration status drew the attention of federal leaders including President Donald Trump and Border Patrol’s Gregory Bovino.
“What’s going on in Charlotte?” Trump posted on Truth Social this weekend. He went on to claim Democratic leaders were “destroying” Charlotte, “piece by piece.”
Bovino — who was in Charlotte last month for the “Charlotte’s Web” Border Patrol operation — took aim at Gov. Stein.
“The blood of innocents is on you,” Bovino wrote in response to the social media statement from Stein.
Oscar Solarzano(Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office)
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