WASHINGTON (TNND) — Elon Musk pledged $1 million to a nationwide campaign funding murals honoring Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, 23, who was brutally murdered last month while aboard a light rail train in Charlotte.
Zarutska’s death at the hands of a repeat offender with a history of mental illness has garnered nationwide attention. At the time of Zarutska’s murder, perpetrator Decarlos Brown Jr., who had 14 prior arrests, was out on cashless bail and awaiting trial. The North Carolina justice system has been under intense scrutiny for letting Brown free on the streets, allowing the repeat offender the opportunity to murder Zarutska on August 22.
The Ukrainian refugee’s murder did not make national headlines until weeks after her death when surveillance footage showing her murder went viral on social media.
And now, Eoghan McCabe, CEO and founder of Intercom, wants to ensure that Zarutska’s life is not forgotten. He has pledged half a million dollars to fund the commission of artists across the country to create murals for the young woman.
“I am offering $500k in $10k grants to paint murals of the face of Iryna Zarutska in prominent US city locations,” McCabe wrote on X.
He has also created a fund so that others could donate to the cause, leading to Musk to make a pledge.
The campaign to create public murals for Iryna Zarutska have been in talks with more than 1,000 artists across the country and are seeking out the best locations for the murals, a person working on the campaign told Fox News.
Zarutska had been living in the United States for three years. She emigrated from Ukraine with her family in August 2022 “to escape the war,” according to her obituary. While living in Ukraine, Zarutska earned a degree in Art and Restoration from Synergy College in Kyiv.
“She shared her creativity generously, gifting family and friends with her artwork,” Zarutska’s obituary said. “She loved sculpting and designing unique, eclectic clothing that reflected her vibrant spirit.”
Her killer Brown has been charged both at the state and federal level and faces the death penalty.
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