A North Carolina judge has ruled that Decarlos Brown Jr., the man accused of fatally stabbing a woman on Charlotte's light rail system, is mentally incompetent to stand trial.

Brown, who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, was charged in connection with the death of Iryna Zarutska on the city's Lynx Blue Line transit system. The competency ruling means Brown is currently unable to understand the legal proceedings against him or assist in his own defense.

The fatal stabbing occurred on Charlotte's light rail system, which serves the metropolitan area. Zarutska was killed during the incident on the Lynx Blue Line, one of the city's primary public transit routes.

Under North Carolina law, defendants must be mentally competent to stand trial, meaning they must understand the nature of the charges against them and be able to participate in their defense. When a defendant is ruled incompetent, proceedings are typically suspended while they receive treatment aimed at restoring their competency.

The case will likely remain on hold while Brown receives mental health treatment. Courts will periodically review his condition to determine if he becomes competent to proceed with the criminal case.