CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina judge on Monday ordered Honduran national Oscar Solarzano to be held without bond following a non-fatal stabbing incident on a Charlotte commuter train. The case has attracted comments from former President Donald Trump, emphasizing the suspect's illegal immigration status.
During a video hearing, Solarzano, 33, met the charges against him that include attempted first-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon. Judge Keith Smith has tentatively scheduled a follow-up hearing for December 30.
The incident, which occurred Friday, saw Solarzano allegedly stab 24-year-old Kenyon Kareem Dobie in the chest during a dispute on the Blue Line train. Dobie has reportedly stated he intervened after Solarzano was yelling at an older woman. I guess it’s better off that it happened to me and not an older person, Dobie reflected. He indicated he was not trying to seem brave, but believed it was important to stand against unwarranted aggression.
Court records revealed that Solarzano, often known as Oscar Gerardo Solorzano-Garcia, had an address linked to a local homeless shelter and was previously banned from Charlotte Area Transit Service (CATS) property.
The Department of Homeland Security disclosed that Solarzano had faced deportation twice before and has a history of convictions, including robbery and illegal re-entry. As part of the ongoing legal proceedings, DHS has placed a detainer on him.
This violent encounter on public transit comes on the heels of a separate stabbing incident in August, where Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska lost her life after an attack on the same train line. Two incidents within a few months have raised ongoing fears about safety in Charlotte’s public transportation system and have prompted calls for increased security measures.
In response to these incidents, city officials have reiterated their commitment to public safety, noting a recent increase in security presence across the transit system and collaborations with local law enforcement.
