December 10, 2025
Headlines

Charlotte Light Rail Stabbing

A Full Briefing on Charges, Court Status, and Transit Safety

UPDATED 9:01 PM Tuesday, Dec 9, 2025.

Public safety on Charlotte’s transit system is under a renewed spotlight after a Dec. 5 stabbing aboard the LYNX Blue Line left a 24-year-old passenger hospitalized and raised new questions about security on one of the city’s most widely used public assets. The Charlotte Mercury reviewed reporting from WFAE, WBTV, WCNC, WSOC, Axios Charlotte, QCity Metro, The Observer, CMPD statements, CATS releases, and court filings to provide a single, verified, ad-free briefing.

This page will update as new filings, docket actions, or CATS responses become available.

The Incident: What CMPD Confirms

  • Date & Time: Friday, December 5, ~5:00 p.m.
  • Location: LYNX Blue Line train near N. Brevard St. & E. 25th St. in NoDa
  • Victim: Kenyon Dobie, 24, transported with life-threatening injuries; later reported he is recovering with a chest tube draining blood from his lung (via his public GoFundMe post).
  • Immediate Response: CMPD and MEDIC cleared and secured the train; service delays followed.

This is the city’s second major stabbing on the Blue Line in four months, a pattern noted consistently by local reporters.

The Suspect: Identity, Background, and ICE Detainer

Oscar Solarzano-Garcia, 33, was arrested shortly after the stabbing. Confirmed across outlets:

  • Nationality: Honduras
  • Immigration status: undocumented
  • Prior deportations: two, per DHS confirmation
  • ICE: has placed a detainer, but detainee will remain in Mecklenburg custody while state charges proceed

No outlet or investigative body has identified a motive. No agency has alleged gang involvement.

Charges Filed (Cross-Verified Across Outlets)

State filings and CMPD arrest records list:

  • Attempted First-Degree Murder
  • Assault With a Deadly Weapon With Intent to Kill Inflicting Serious Injury (AWDWIKISI)
  • Assault on a Public Transit Passenger
  • Possession of a Dangerous Weapon
  • Communicating Threats
  • (Charge language varies slightly; substance does not.)

A Mecklenburg County judge ordered Solarzano-Garcia held without bond.

Court Timeline & What Happens Next

  • The suspect remains in the Mecklenburg County jail.
  • Next court appearance: late December (exact date varies by state docket updates).
  • Prosecutors will review whether:
    • Additional charges are warranted
    • Attempted murder charge structure will stand
    • Any supplemental evidence affects bond status (unlikely given current order)

Under NC law, attempted first-degree murder requires demonstrating intent + premeditation — a standard prosecutors will have to evaluate based on train-camera evidence, witness statements, and medical records.

Transit Safety Context: Why This Matters for Charlotte

CATS leadership has acknowledged increased public concern after two high-profile stabbings in four months. Reporting across outlets confirms:

What CATS has said publicly

  • Security budgets have increased the past two fiscal cycles
  • More armed guards and contracted patrols were added in 2024–25
  • Fare enforcement has been intensified due to concerns about non-paying riders loitering onboard

What remains unaddressed

Outlets repeatedly note that CATS has not yet answered:

  • Whether an armed guard was scheduled or present on this specific train
  • Whether the attack was captured on internal security cameras
  • Whether any alert or intervention occurred prior to arrival at the station
  • Whether CATS will change deployment or patrol strategy following this case

Those open questions will shape future Mercury follow-up reporting.

Community Response: Riders, Neighbors, and Officials

Across WSOC, WCNC, QCity Metro and local interviews:

  • Riders report greater fear during peak evening hours
  • Many describe inconsistent guard presence and unclear emergency protocols
  • Some officials argue transit safety requires more personnel, not only more enforcement
  • Others cite broader systemic issues: mental-health crises, homelessness on transit, and resource constraints inside CATS

The Mercury will continue reviewing policy discussions at Charlotte City Council, Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC) and CATS oversight committees.

Immigration Becomes a Flashpoint — National Figures Weigh In

WFAE confirmed that President Trump and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem publicly commented on the incident, tying it to federal immigration enforcement.

The Mercury’s position, consistent with its ethos:
No speculation. No amplification of political claims without verified grounding.
This briefing includes only factual confirmations from DHS and CMPD about the suspect’s immigration status.

Eight Facts Readers Can Trust (All Outlets Agree on These)

  1. Stabbing occurred Dec. 5 on the Blue Line near 25th St.
  2. Victim survived; remains hospitalized, recovering.
  3. Suspect is Oscar Solarzano-Garcia, 33.
  4. DHS confirmed two prior deportations.
  5. Five serious charges filed, including attempted first-degree murder.
  6. Judge ordered he be held without bond.
  7. ICE lodged a detainer; suspect stays in local custody.
  8. This is the second major stabbing on the Blue Line in ~4 months.

What’s Still Unknown (No Outlet Has Confirmed)

  • Motive
  • Any prior interaction between suspect and victim
  • Whether cameras recorded the incident
  • Whether on-board security personnel were scheduled or present
  • Whether prosecutors will amend charges
  • Whether CATS will change its safety protocols after internal review

The Mercury will update this page if any of these items change.