What we know about the suspect in the latest light rail stabbing

CHARLOTTE — Channel 9 is learning more about the suspect in the stabbing that took place Friday.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Suspect named after man stabbed in chest on light rail train in north Charlotte

Friday no one knew who Oscar Solarzano was. Now he is the poster child for a politically-charged debate on illegal immigration.

“You do have some good people that’s illegally in the country,” said Ron Pele, a light rail passenger. “Then you have the bad people.”

Solarzano is accused of Friday night’s stabbing on the light rail.

Police say he was drunk and yelling at the victim and others on the train, and then stabbed a 24-year-old man in the chest.

The victim is listed in critical and stable condition at the hospital.

Given this summer’s murder of Iryna Zarutska on the light rail, Friday’s case has attracted a lot of attention. The governor spoke about it. So did the mayor.

This evening we found newly sworn in CMPD Chief Stella Patterson walking the beat with Deputy Chief Jackie Bryley at the station where Zarutska was killed.

We learned that Solarzano is in the country illegally.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, the 33-year-old man is from Honduras and was deported by the Trump administration in 2018. He was arrested trying to cross the border in 2021 and entered the country illegally for a third time at an unknown date and location.

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Channel 9 asked light rail passengers about Solarzano’s immigration status.

“People are going to use it to push their own political views, but it shouldn’t make any difference,” said Ryan Pirsa.

“When you have situations like that, people here in the country illegally, it’s a big problem with that, so it has to be a big crackdown,” Pele said.

CATS’ Interim CEO Brent Cagle put out the following statement Saturday:

“We are disappointed that a verbal altercation escalated to the point of a stabbing incident on a Blue Line train Friday evening. Through close collaboration between CATS private security team (PSS) and CMPD, a suspect was apprehended swiftly following the incident. Since August, CATS, together with our partners, have taken a proactive and robust approach to keep employees and passengers as safe as possible by deploying additional off-duty CMPD officers, private security personnel, new technology and safety reporting tools. Violence has no place in our community, including on public transit. Individuals who believe public transit can be used as an area to settle grievances through violent altercations are not welcome on our system. We will continue to work with our partners at CMPD as well as our private security team to ensure everyone rides appropriately on public transit. We will not compromise on the safety of our customers and employees.”

The suspect is in jail under no bond and is scheduled to have his first court appearance on Monday.

WATCH: Arrest made after man stabbed in chest on light rail train