In a powerful response to what many see as media neglect and political double standards, Intercom co-founder and CEO Eoghan McCabe has pledged $500,000 to fund murals commemorating Iryna Zarutska—a Ukrainian refugee who was brutally stabbed to death on a Charlotte light rail train in August.
McCabe, a prominent Silicon Valley entrepreneur, is offering $10,000 grants to 50 artists to paint murals of Zarutska’s face in highly visible public spaces across major U.S. cities. The effort, according to McCabe, aims to not only honor Zarutska’s memory but also draw attention to the alarming rise in violent crime plaguing American cities—an issue many feel is downplayed by mainstream media.
“I am offering $500k in $10k grants to paint murals of the face of Iryna Zarutska in prominent U.S. city locations,” McCabe announced on X.“Please contact [email protected] for more details. Please also share this message. If you would like to contribute to this fund, please contact Katie also.”
I am offering $500k in $10k grants to paint murals of the face of Iryna Zarutska in prominent US city locations
Please contact [email protected] for more details
Please also share this message
If you would like to contribute to this fund, please contact Katie also pic.twitter.com/M8OyqfcZlm
— Eoghan McCabe (@eoghan) September 10, 2025
Zarutska, 39, fled the devastation of war-torn Ukraine in hopes of finding safety and freedom in the United States. On August 22, her American dream was cut short when she was randomly attacked and killed in a horrifying act of violence while riding a public train in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Surveillance footage shows 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr. — a career criminal with a long rap sheet and documented mental health issues — ambushing Zarutska from behind and stabbing her without provocation. Brown has a history of violent offenses and should never have been on the streets.
This case has reignited national outrage over lenient, soft-on-crime policies that leave dangerous individuals roaming freely among innocent Americans. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi made a strong statement:
“Iryna Zarutska was a young woman living the American dream—her horrific murder is a direct result of failed soft-on-crime policies that put criminals before innocent people. We will seek the maximum penalty for this unforgivable crime, and he will never again see the light of day as a free man.”
The mural campaign, while deeply emotional, is also a political statement. While public spaces across the country have been covered with murals of controversial figures like George Floyd, many conservatives are calling for a shift toward honoring true victims—those whose lives were taken due to failed leadership, systemic negligence, and a lack of accountability.
Supporters online have voiced strong support for replacing ideologically-driven murals with those of victims like Zarutska, arguing that these tributes would more accurately reflect the real consequences of broken systems and failed policies.
In a growing show of support, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has reportedly offered up to $1 million to fund similar murals nationwide, lending his voice to the urgent demand for change.
A GiveSendGo fundraiser launched alongside the mural initiative has already raised over $20,000 toward a $100,000 goal. The funds will support local artists, permit applications, and coordination across cities.
“We will install as many posters and murals across this great nation as funds afford so that the important conversations her slaying provokes may perpetuate and drive much-needed change,” the campaign states.
McCabe’s initiative is more than a tribute—it’s a challenge to the cultural and political narratives shaping modern America. As President Donald Trump continues to spotlight urban crime in his push for law and order, incidents like Zarutska’s death serve as tragic, yet stark reminders of what’s truly at stake.
“In Charlotte, North Carolina, we saw the results of these policies when a 23-year-old woman who came here from Ukraine met her bloody end on a public train,” Trump said, emphasizing the failure to keep violent offenders behind bars.
Despite the gravity of the situation, Charlotte’s Democratic Mayor Vi Lyles responded with boilerplate rhetoric:
“We will never arrest our way out of issues such as homelessness and mental health,” she said, prompting criticism from those who feel political leaders are more focused on protecting criminals than victims.
Applications for the mural grants are expected to open this week, with artists from across the nation encouraged to participate. McCabe says he hopes the project will not only memorialize Zarutska but also ignite public conversation on crime, public safety, mental illness, and immigration.
