23-year-old Iryna Zarutska fled the war in Ukraine, seeking safety and a new beginning in the U.S. But this week she was stabbed in the throat and killed on a Charlotte light rail train.

Her attacker, 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., is a career criminal who has been in and out of prison for 15 years.

First and foremost, my deepest condolences to Iryna’s family and everyone affected by this evil atrocity. 💔

This tragedy is a wake-up call that danger doesn’t take days off. Which is why I teach the 4 Pillars of Personal Protection ⬇️

1️⃣ Context – What are you doing, and what risks come with it? Riding a subway late at night = higher risk → higher awareness. Stay off the phone.
2️⃣ Tactical Position – Where are you placing yourself? Does your seat, stance, or location give you advantage or disadvantage? Yes, profiling is part of survival.
3️⃣ Rolling Risk Assessment – Always assess people and environments around you. Risks evolve by the second—stay visually in control.
4️⃣ Have a Plan – If something pops off, don’t improvise. Pre-decide your response so you can act fast when seconds count.

🛡️ Evil exists. Preparedness saves lives. If you’re serious about learning the soft + hard skills of protection, join me inside the Civilian Protector Project. Over 70 hours of training to raise your Protection Quotient (PQ) are waiting for you.