Crime
Family Ties to Violence: Half-Brother of Iryna Zarutska Accused Killer Previously Convicted in 2012 Murder of 65-Year-Old Robert Heym
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The family history of violence tied to the suspect accused in the killing of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska has drawn renewed attention to a broader cycle of crime and tragedy.
Authorities confirm that Decarlos Brown Jr., 35, who is charged with fatally stabbing Zarutska aboard a Charlotte light rail train on August 22, has a half-brother with his own history of deadly violence.
Court records show that Stacey Dejon Brown, 22, pleaded guilty in 2012 to the murder of Robert Heym, 65, who was shot in the face while walking home from work. The killing occurred during a robbery on October 2012, in which Brown and accomplice Rodderick Derrick Crawford confronted Heym.
Investigators said Brown’s girlfriend at the time provided key information, telling police that Brown had placed the murder weapon — a sawed-off shotgun — inside her backpack before attempting to hide it. She also told detectives Brown admitted, “I shot the guy,” after the victim resisted.
Police recovered Heym’s cell phone near the Scaleybark light rail station, underscoring how the city’s transit system was again central to a violent crime. Officers responding to nearby gunfire found Heym fatally wounded.
In Mecklenburg County court, Stacey Brown pled guilty to second-degree murder, two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, and breaking or entering a motor vehicle. He was sentenced to 27 to 36 years in prison.
The case was linked to additional incidents:
In July 2012, Brown participated in breaking into vehicles in a Charlotte parking garage.
One day before Heym’s murder, Brown, Crawford, and Joshwah Townsend robbed another man on West Boulevard. During the robbery, Brown held a shotgun while Townsend took the victim’s belongings. When the victim attempted to flee, Brown shot him in the back. That victim survived with serious injuries.Both accomplices later accepted plea agreements. Crawford pled guilty to two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon and awaits sentencing. Townsend pled guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and received a sentence of 17 to 33 months.
The Browns’ history of violent offenses is not isolated. Family members have described a long pattern of legal troubles spanning multiple generations, including arrests involving weapons, break-ins, and other felonies. Some relatives have cited untreated mental illness, including schizophrenia, as a contributing factor.
Community advocates say the tragedy highlights a larger cycle of violence that continues to devastate families and neighborhoods. “This isn’t just about one case — it’s about a cycle that keeps stealing lives, peace, and futures,” one community member said. “We have to break it. That means caring, prevention, healing, and change before another life is erased.”
The deaths of Robert Heym in 2012 and Iryna Zarutska in 2025 — both innocent victims of senseless attacks — serve as painful reminders of the urgent need to address both violent crime and its root causes.
🕊️ May Iryna and all victims of senseless violence rest in peace.
Crime
Who Is the Hero Teacher, Threw a Phone at Gunman John J. Griffin II, Tackled Him, and Fought Back During the Silver Rail Elementary School Shooting?
Another Unamed Hero in Silver Rail Elementary School Shooting: Teacher throwing phone at gunman Griffin J. John II who attacked , tackling him and fighting him.
Anyone Know Her Name? She Must Be Praised Just Like Kaylub Giamanco
BEND, Oregon — Becky Drury, a 54-year-old teacher at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, sustained serious injuries during the deadly school shooting on Thursday, October 15, 2026. Drury suffered gunshot wounds to her left arm and right hand and underwent surgery, according to the information shared about the incident.
As Drury begins what could be a lengthy recovery, new details have also emerged about the reported actions of another teacher who allegedly confronted the gunman during the attack. According to the account attributed to Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz during a press conference, the unidentified teacher threw a phone at the suspect, tackled him, and fought back.
The teacher reportedly escaped the confrontation without physical injuries. Officials were said to have clarified that earlier information suggesting the teacher had been injured was incorrect.
Drury was among those injured in the shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School. She sustained injuries to her left arm and right hand and required surgery.
Although the injuries were described as serious, the information provided indicates that she survived the operation. Her recovery may involve additional medical treatment, rehabilitation, and emotional support as she works to recover from the traumatic experience.
Her family, colleagues, students, and community members are hoping for her continued improvement and a successful recovery.
The shooting has left the school community dealing with grief, fear, and uncertainty. For those injured, the challenges extend beyond immediate medical care, as they and their loved ones face the psychological and emotional consequences of the violence.
Additional details attributed to Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz describe the actions of another Silver Rail Elementary School teacher who reportedly confronted the gunman during the attack.
According to the account provided, the unidentified teacher threw a phone at the suspect, tackled him, and physically fought back. The teacher was reportedly not injured, contrary to earlier information about the confrontation.
The teacher’s reported actions have drawn attention because confronting an armed attacker can involve extraordinary personal risk. However, the precise sequence of events and the extent to which the confrontation affected the outcome should be established through official statements and investigative findings.
The teacher’s identity has not been provided in the supplied information. Protecting that person’s privacy may be particularly important while the school community and those directly involved continue to process the incident.
The supplied account also identifies Kaylub Giamanco as the person who reportedly shot and killed the suspect during the incident.
The suspect has been identified in earlier reports as John J. Griffin II, a 16-year-old. However, the exact spelling and order of the suspect’s name should be confirmed against official law enforcement records before publication.
The reported intervention by Giamanco and the actions attributed to the unidentified teacher are separate aspects of the developing account. Their precise roles and the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s death should be described using verified statements from investigators.
As Becky Drury faces recovery, messages of support and prayers are being shared for her and everyone affected by the shooting.
Teachers and school staff often play a central role in supporting children, particularly during frightening and uncertain situations. The reported actions of Drury’s colleague have prompted expressions of appreciation, although the full circumstances should be confirmed before drawing definitive conclusions about what happened.
The emotional impact of a school shooting can continue long after the immediate danger has passed. Survivors, families, students, educators, and first responders may need access to counseling, mental health resources, and other forms of assistance.
Community support may also help families and injured staff members manage medical costs, time away from work, and other practical challenges during recovery.
The Silver Rail Elementary School shooting has left the Bend community confronting profound loss and uncertainty. As families mourn those who died, attention is also turning to the survivors who must navigate the difficult process of healing.
Becky Drury’s recovery remains an important concern for her loved ones and colleagues. The unidentified teacher who reportedly confronted the gunman may also need emotional support after experiencing such a traumatic event, even without physical injuries.
Prayers and support are being extended to Becky Drury, her family, the teacher who reportedly intervened, and every student, family, and staff member affected by the tragedy.