Rapper DaBaby has released a powerful new music video. The video is a tribute to Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee murdered in North Carolina. It re-enacts the August attack on a Charlotte light rail train.
However, the video presents an alternate outcome. It shows a bystander intervening to prevent the tragic stabbing. DaBaby shared the video on his YouTube channel alongside a link to Zarutska's official GoFundMe page.
The video, titled 'Save Me,' features actors portraying Zarutska and her accused attacker, Decarlos Brown Jr. Surveillance footage from Fox 8 shows the real attack occurred on August 22. The incident shocked the local community.
DaBaby himself appears in the video as a bystander. He is seated on the train during the altercation. The scene builds tension as the attacker raises a knife.
Just as the blade is about to strike, DaBaby's character intervenes. He stops the attack and escorts the assailant off the train. This fictional intervention provides a stark contrast to the real event's tragic conclusion.
Public reaction to the video has been mixed but largely supportive. Many fans praised DaBaby for using his platform to raise awareness. According to YouTube comments, viewers found the tribute moving and impactful.
One supporter stated the video ensures Zarutska's story is not forgotten. Another thanked the rapper for his courage in addressing the tragedy. The video has sparked renewed discussion about the case online.
In reality, Zarutska's life ended on that train. She was 23 years old and had fled the war in Ukraine for safety. Decarlos Brown Jr. now faces a first-degree murder charge for her death.