A viral stabbing on a Charlotte train has called the ‘soft on crime’ policies of major cities across the country into question after it was revealed that the assailant has an extensive rap sheet that includes violent crimes.

The tragic incident, which occurred on August 22nd but was brought to light this week, resulted in the death of a 23-year-old female Ukrainian refugee.

The suspected assailant, 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr, has an extensive history of criminality and mental illness and was out on cashless bail at the time of the grizzly murder, reigniting a debate about public safety in North Carolina and across the country. (RELATED: 19 of 20 Deadliest U.S. Cities Run by Democrats: Report)

Brown was most arrested, but released on cashless bail after making a false 911 report. Brown served five years in prison for robbery with a dangerous firearm. He assaulted his sister shortly after being released from prison in 2019.

While North Carolina’s Democratic Governor, Josh Stein, has said that the gruesome murder highlights a need for more police, some have said that fault lies with prosecutors and courts who were complicit in letting Brown back out onto the streets.

While Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles was initially noncommittal about solutions to address the stabbing, she later released a statement critical of courts for releasing repeat offenders and expressed support for resolving the problem.

“Our police officers arrest people only to have them quickly released, which undermines our ability to protect our community and ensure safety,” Lyles said in the statement. “We need a bipartisan solution to address repeat offenders who do not face consequences for their actions and those who cannot get treatment for their mental illness and are allowed to be on the streets.” (RELATED: ‘Nerve Racking’ Milwaukee Violent Crime Wave Hits Public Transportation)