Michael Whatley, a Republican candidate for the Senate in North Carolina, has made headlines as he targets his Democratic opponent, former Governor Roy Cooper, in relation to a fatal incident involving Ukrainian immigrant Iryna Zarutska. Zarutska was stabbed to death by Decarlos Dejuan Brown Jr. near a light rail station in Charlotte in August 2025. Whatley's accusations stem from a settlement that Cooper made with civil rights groups in 2021 regarding prison conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic, which critics claim influenced the release of Brown, the man charged with Zarutska's murder.

As the primary election approaches, Whatley aims to use the tragic case of Zarutska's death to highlight his opponent's record. In a press statement, Whitley’s campaign cleverly titled their event invitation to emphasize that DeCarlos Brown would not be attending Whatley's primary night victory celebrations. This strategy appears to be a calculated attempt to galvanize voter support by framing Cooper's policies as ineffective and directly linked to public safety issues such as violent crime.

This political maneuver is significant as it not only brings to light the issue of crime in Charlotte but also reshapes the narrative around criminal justice reforms taken during Cooper's tenure. Whatley’s accusations could resonate with voters concerned about safety and crime in their communities, setting the stage for a contentious primary and putting pressure on Cooper to defend his policies amidst rising crime rates in the region.