CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina judge has ordered a Honduran man to be held without bond following a stabbing incident on a commuter train in Charlotte that left the public questioning the impact of immigration policies on safety.
Oscar Solarzano, 33, appeared in court via video link, facing charges including attempted first-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon. His next hearing is scheduled for December 30.
Solarzano is accused of stabbing 24-year-old Kenyon Kareem Dobie in the chest during a confrontation on the city's Blue Line train. Witness reports claim that the altercation began after Dobie defended an elderly woman from Solarzano's hostile remarks.
Dobie, recovering from injuries, expressed relief that the incident did not involve someone older. He stated, I wasn’t trying to be a macho man... But what I won’t allow is you to attack random people for no reason, especially the elderly.
Solarzano, whose known address is a local homeless shelter, was previously banned from Charlotte Area Transit property and has a criminal history, including two prior deportations. The Department of Homeland Security has lodged a detainer against him after the incident.
In the wake of this stabbing, former President Trump commented on social media, linking the attack to concerns over immigration in Democratic-led cities. He claimed, Another stabbing by an Illegal Migrant in Charlotte, North Carolina... Democrats are destroying it, like everything else, piece by piece!!!
City officials, however, defended their safety measures, emphasizing their commitment to public security. Mayor Vi Lyles noted the city's proactive initiatives, including increasing police presence and collaborating with the transit authority to ensure passenger safety.
Brent Cagle, the interim CEO of Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), assured the public that transit security measures have been intensified to prevent further incidents.
This stabbing incident is reminiscent of a previous attack involving a Ukrainian refugee on the same transit system, raising ongoing concerns about safety and immigration policies in the area.
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