(DCNF)—The suspect charged Saturday for allegedly stabbing and seriously injuring a man on a Charlotte light rail train the night before was a previously deported illegal immigrant, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) announced in a Saturday morning X post it charged Oscar Solarzano, 33, with attempted first degree murder and four other charges after he allegedly stabbed Kenyon Dobie in the chest Friday night. The incident took place on the Lynx Blue Line, the same transit line a mentally ill career criminal fatally stabbed Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old refugee from war-torn Ukraine, on Aug. 22.
Solarzano, a Honduran national, was deported by the Trump administration in 2018, the DHS confirmed to Fox News’s Bill Meligin. The suspect, however, illegally entered the country three years later, after Joe Biden assumed the presidency, only to be deported again by the new administration. He illegally reentered the U.S. once again at an unspecified time, according to Melugin. Solarzano was previously arrested in the U.S. on several charges, including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, he reported.
NEW: DHS confirms to @FoxNews that the suspect accused of stabbing a man on the Charlotte light rail yesterday is a 2x previously deported Honduran illegal alien with a lengthy criminal history in the U.S.
OSCAR GERARDO SOLARZANO-GARCIA was deported by the Trump admin in March… pic.twitter.com/J4d1oCGSdO
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) December 6, 2025
Magistrate Rebecca Howell said Solarzano was in the U.S. illegally and had been, at one point, deported, Charlotte-based ABC affiliate WSOC-TV reported, citing court paperwork. Howell ordered the suspect be held without bond.
The victim was hospitalized with serious injuries and remains in stable condition, ABC News reported Saturday afternoon, citing the Mecklenburg EMS Agency. Solarzano is set to make a court appearance Monday morning, according to WSOC-TV.
“Solarzano was quickly apprehended by officers shortly after the incident occurred. Solarzano was transported to the division office where he was interviewed by detectives,” CMPD wrote on X. “At the conclusion of this interview, Solarzano was transported to the custody of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office.”
Case Update: Assault with a Deadly Weapon Investigation in the Eastway Division
As a result of the continued investigation, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) Eastway Division Detectives identified Oscar Solarzano, 33, as a suspect in connection to this case.…
— CMPD News (@CMPD) December 6, 2025
“Just months ago, Iryna Zarutska was brutally murdered on this very same Charlotte light-rail line. Yet radical pro-crime Democrats still refuse to confront the violent crime epidemic sweeping our city,” Republican North Carolina Rep. Mark Harris told the Daily Caller News Foundation in a statement.
“While families beg for safety and police call for backup, the Left is too busy protesting ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] for daring to remove illegal aliens from our streets. This latest senseless stabbing proves what they desperately want to hide: Democrat policies protect criminals and abandon victims,” Harris, whose district includes part of Charlotte, added.
“Oscar Solarzano was previously deported and then illegally entered our country AGAIN,” Harris wrote in a Saturday afternoon X post. “These are the folks NC’s pro-crime Democrats want to keep on the streets.”
Meet the illegal alien charged with stabbing someone on a Charlotte Light Rail last night.
Oscar Solarzano was previously deported and then illegally entered our country AGAIN.
These are the folks NC’s pro-crime Democrats want to keep on the streets. pic.twitter.com/YXfMnaAkqa
— Rep. Mark Harris (@RepMarkHarrisNC) December 6, 2025
Former Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Whatley, a candidate for North Carolina’s open 2026 U.S. Senate seat, blasted his likely general election opponent, former Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, for what he said were policies that led to a rise in crime committed by illegal immigrants.
“This is Roy Cooper’s legacy. While Governor, he BLOCKED legislation which would have forced sheriffs to work with ICE – leaving North Carolinians vulnerable,” wrote Whatley in a Saturday afternoon X post. “From 2019 to 2024, Cooper vetoed EVERY SINGLE bill that would let law enforcement do their job and cooperate with ICE.”
“The result? 500 illegal immigrants with ICE detainers walked free. Some charged with RAPE, KIDNAPPING, and MURDER. Cooper chose criminals over cops,” the candidate endorsed by President Donald Trump added in his post. “Cooper created a revolving door for violent criminals, protected illegal aliens, and abandoned North Carolina families. Now he wants to be your Senator?”
A person was viciously stabbed on the Charlotte light rail last night and seriously injured. The suspect? Oscar Solarzano—an illegal alien known to law enforcement.
This is Roy Cooper’s legacy. While Governor, he BLOCKED legislation which would have forced sheriffs to work with… https://t.co/LF9FUmLMxh
— Michael Whatley (@WhatleyNC) December 6, 2025
“Apparently, the death of Iryna Zarutska wasn’t enough,” Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy wrote on X Saturday morning, prior to reports of the suspect’s identity.
“What is it going to take for [Democratic Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles] to remove violent criminals off the streets and protect her constituents?” Duffy asked. “The time to act is NOW.”
Iryna’s Law, named in honor of the slain refugee, went into effect in North Carolina on Dec. 1. Democratic North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein signed the law, albeit 10 days after the state’s Republican-controlled legislature passed it. The law in part increases the penalty for crimes committed on public transit in South Carolina, such as Charlotte’s Lynx Blue Line. It also cracks down on pretrial release for repeat offenders.
DHS launched Operation Charlotte’s Web to target criminal illegal immigrants in Charlotte on Nov. 15. The operation led to 81 arrests on its first day alone. As of Dec. 3, at least 425 individuals had been arrested as a result of the operation, Charlotte-based CBS affiliate WBTV reported, citing a DHS spokesperson.
The DCNF reached out to the CMPD and DHS for additional comment.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact [email protected].
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.