Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, is diagnosed with schizophrenia and has a lengthy criminal history, including past violent convictions and a recent arrest in January. But he was homeless and out of custody the night he's accused of killing 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska.

The big picture: The deadly stabbing on Charlotte's light rail raises questions about the effectiveness of the judicial system and the community's failures to address mental health. Even Brown's mother has blamed the courts for allowing her son to be out in the community.

What they're saying: District Attorney Spencer Merriweather, bound by legal rules, wouldn't comment directly on the case. But he spoke broadly with Axios about the limitations and complexities of holding accountable defendants with mental health issues.

• Often, defendants must undergo an evaluation to determine whether they are mentally capable of assisting in their own defense.
• Merriweather noted some defendants stay in mental health facilities for years while the court waits for them to reach the capacity to stand trial. In some instances, judges eventually dismiss cases, releasing people who committed dangerous acts.

Case in point: Brown was released from jail without bond in January for misusing 911.

• In July, Brown's public defender questioned his ability to proceed in his court case. The judge ordered a forensic evaluation, which was never done, and Brown stayed out of custody, Queen City News reported.
• Charged with Zarutska's murder, Brown is now being held without bond and was recently ordered to complete a competency evaluation for the trial, WBTV reported.

Reality check: North Carolina faces a shortage of mental health resources.

• In the early 2000s, lawmakers slashed the number of state hospital beds without adequately funding community care, as part of a national movement to deinstitutionalize mental health.

Keep reading for other potential policy reforms

💼 Check out who's hiring on our Job Board.

1. CLT Alliance Foundation Sr. Program Manager at Charlotte Regional Business Alliance.
2. Family Services Manager (Evening) at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Charlotte.
3. Communications Manager at The National Board of Examiners in Optometry, Inc.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring? Post a job.

Charlotte 49ers football revenue continues to grow, according to director of athletics Mike Hill.

Why it matters: The school's entire athletics budget has increased from roughly $29 million in 2018 to approximately $49 million.

Between the lines: Charlotte received $200,000 for playing at North Carolina last year. The Tar Heels will receive $200,000 for playing here this year. It's more of a token exchange than a guaranteed payout.

• However, Charlotte will receive a program-record $1.9 million to play at Georgia on Nov. 22.

What's next: The program is emphasizing the sale of new premium spaces that are part of their stadium expansion, with a dedicated sales center in Uptown.

• Legends, a hospitality management firm specializing in sports venues, will serve as the program's day-to-day sales arm for the stadium's five premium spaces, including suites and loge boxes in a new state-of-the-art tower.
• "We have to continue to generate revenue to reinvest in the football program for it to have the success that we all want it to have," Hill says.

Read more about how the team is growing up

Speaking of the Charlotte 49ers (0-1), their home opener this Saturday against North Carolina (0-1) marks Bill Belichick's first away game as the Tar Heels' head coach. Kick off is at 7pm on ESPN+.

• Here's who else is playing in the Charlotte area and beyond this week.

Editor's note: This does not include every school. Games are on Sept. 6.

🐂 Johnson C. Smith (1-0) hosts Valdosta State (1-0) at noon on the CIAA Sports Network.

🐾 Davidson (0-1) plays at Elon (0-1) at 6pm on FloCollege.

🎩 Wake Forest (1-0) hosts Western Carolina (0-1) at 2pm on ACC Network Extra.

🐺 N.C. State (1-0) hosts Virginia (1-0) at noon on ESPN2.

😈 Duke (1-0) hosts No. 11 Illinois (1-0) at noon on ESPN.

🦅 📷 N.C. Central (1-1) plays at ODU (0-1) at 6pm on ESPN+.

🐶 N.C. A&T (0-1) plays at UCF (1-0) at 7pm on ESPN+.

⛰ Appalachian State (1-0) hosts Lindenwood (0-1) at 3:30pm on ESPN+.

🏴‍☠️ East Carolina (0-1) hosts Campbell (0-1) at 6pm on ESPN+.

🐔 No. 10 South Carolina (1-0) hosts South Carolina State (1-0) at 7pm on SEC Network+.

🐯 No. 8 Clemson (0-1) hosts Troy (1-0) at 3:30pm on the ACC Network.

🥪 Carolina Panthers player Xavier Legette has helped cook up a raccoon-inspired sandwich that will be served at this year's home games. The "Masked Bandit" is slow-smoked brisket, melted cheese and Carolina coleslaw on a "raccoon" roll.

🏀 Belk has been named the presenting sponsor of the inaugural Dick Vitale Invitational, Nov. 4 at Spectrum Center.

⚽️ Charlotte FC head coach Dean Smith will serve one-match suspension after receiving his third yellow card this season. (X)

📺 Bear Grylls, from the Discovery Channel show "Man Vs. Wild," will appear at the Carolina Theatre for a fireside chat on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

• Tickets start at $50 and go on sale at TheCarolina.com tomorrow at 10am.

🎓 North Carolina's annual test results show that 55% of students performed at or above grade level across all subjects for the 2024-25 school year, up slightly from 54.2% last year but still below pre-pandemic levels. (News & Observer)

CATS is vowing to step up enforcement in light of the recent stabbing on the light rail. The transit system's contracted security is down by about 32 people. (WSOC)

News you can use from our partners.

• 🍿 Free movie nights are back at Wilmore Centennial Park in South End. See "X-Men" on Sept. 6, "27 Dresses" on Sept. 13 and "Shrek" on Sept. 20. Bring a blanket + your fave takeout. RSVP here.

The first weekend in September is kicking off with a list of top events from the Yiasou Greek Festival to the Charlotte International Arts Festival. What's more:

🏓 Friday: Experience Charlotte's first padel courts at Charlotte Padel Club with giveaways, Champagne and more.| $55-$60 | 6pm | Details

👕 Saturday: Meet Steve Smith Sr. at Glory Days Apparel for a shirt release. Proceeds go to the Steve Smith Foundation. | Prices vary | 11am | Details

🛍️ Sunday: Shop more than 100 local small businesses at Front Porch Sundays in South End. | Free | 10:30am-4pm | Details

27 things to do in Charlotte this weekend

Sixty-eight years ago today, Dorothy Counts made American history as one of four students to integrate Charlotte's schools.

Why it matters: As a 15-year-old Black girl, Counts bravely fought for equality despite the angry protestors who screamed and threw rocks to discourage her on her walk to class on Sept. 4, 1957.

• Dot Counts-Scoggins is now 83 years old. She still lives in Charlotte, in a single-story home near Johnson C. Smith University, just a couple of blocks from where she grew up.

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