Fox News host Brian Kilmeade called for executing homeless individuals with mental health issues during a September 10 episode of Fox & Friends, suggesting “involuntary lethal injection” as a solution for those who refuse government assistance.
The controversial remarks went viral on social media Saturday morning, drawing widespread condemnation including a biblical response from California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Newsweek reached out to Fox News’ media team via email on Saturday for comment.
Why It Matters
The comments emerged during a discussion about the brutal August 22 murder of Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee who was stabbed to death on Charlotte’s Lynx Blue Line by Decarlos Brown Jr., a repeat offender with 14 prior arrests who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Zarutska’s killing has become a flashpoint in national debates over public safety, criminal justice reform, and mental health policy. According to her family’s attorney, she had recently moved in with her partner, was taking English classes, and had texted that she was on her way home before the fatal attack.
The case has prompted federal charges and calls for enhanced public transit security, while highlighting systemic issues around repeat offenders and mental health treatment.
What To Know
The Fox News exchange began as co-hosts discussed Brown’s extensive criminal history and the broader homelessness crisis.
Co-host Lawrence Jones argued for eliminating choice in treatment options, stating: “This is happening all across the country, and it’s not a money issue. They have given billions of dollars to mental health and the homeless population. A lot of them don’t want to take the programs, a lot of them don’t want to get the help that is necessary. You can’t give them a choice. Either you take the resources that we’re going to give you, or you decide that you are going to be locked up in jail. That’s the way it has to be now.”
Kilmeade then interjected with his execution proposal: “Or involuntary lethal injection.”
When Jones responded “Yeah,” Kilmeade continued: “Or something. Just kill them.”
Co-host Ainsley Earhardt showed no objection to the statement, instead asking: “Yeah, Brian, why did it have to get to this point?”
The conversation then shifted to electoral politics, with Kilmeade arguing that voters need to elect candidates who would be tougher on crime. He specifically criticized several district attorneys and urged North Carolina voters to support stricter law enforcement policies, connecting the discussion to upcoming elections and criminal justice policy.
On Thursday, in a letter to the Chief Judge of North Carolina Judicial District 26, Roy H. Wiggins, 10 Republicans questioned Judge Teresa Stokes, a magistrate judge for the Charlotte District in Mecklenburg County Court, North Carolina, over her decision to release Brown in a case earlier this year. They said this decision gave “grounds for removal.”
In January 2025, Brown was arrested for alleged “misuse of the 911 system” and was released after signing a written promise to appear at his next court hearing, according to court documents signed by Stokes and seen by Newsweek.
He previously was convicted of felony larceny, robbery with a dangerous weapon and communicating threats, leading to a six-year prison sentence in 2015 for incidents dating to 2013 and 2014. He was released in 2020; then, months later, he was charged with assaulting his sister.
The GOP lawmakers added that releasing Brown “had devastating consequences” and that Zarutska’s murder was “a direct result of failure of judicial responsibility.”
What People Are Saying
California Governor Gavin Newsom responded to the Fox News exchange with Proverbs 21:13 on X: “Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.”
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social: “I have seen the horrific video of a beautiful, young Ukrainian refugee, who came to America to escape the vicious War in Ukraine, and was innocently riding the Metro in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she was brutally ambushed by a mentally deranged lunatic.”
He continued: “The perpetrator was a well known career criminal, who had been previously arrested and released on CASHLESS BAIL in January, a total of 14 TIMES. What the hell was he doing riding the train, and walking the streets? Criminals like this need to be LOCKED UP. The blood of this innocent woman can literally be seen dripping from the killer’s knife, and now her blood is on the hands of the Democrats who refuse to put bad people in jail, including Former Disgraced Governor and ‘Wannabe Senator’ Roy Cooper.”
“North Carolina, and every State, needs LAW AND ORDER, and only Republicans will deliver it! Additionally, where is the outrage from the Mainstream Media on this horrible tragedy? VOTE FOR MICHAEL WHATLEY FOR UNITED STATES SENATE, HE WON’T LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN!”
Charlotte City Council Member Edwin Peacock III, a Republican, on X August 30: “A week ago, 23-year-old #IrynaZarutska was brutally killed on Charlotte’s light rail. Her death is a tragedy we cannot ignore. Who’s riding without paying? Are they the ones causing problems? We need answers.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi said Brown would: “Never again see the light of day as a free man.”
What Happens Next?
Brown is being held without bond at the Mecklenburg County Jail. A judge has ordered a competency evaluation, according to WBTV. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 19.
Meanwhile, the new federal charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison or execution.
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