Thread: Border Patrol commander blames North Carolina gov. for Charlotte light rail stabbing

‘Blood of innocents on you’: Border Patrol commander blames North Carolina gov. for Charlotte light rail stabbing

1 person critically injured in reported stabbing


The stabbing left one person in critical condition, officials said.
By Connor Lomis

Published: Dec. 8, 2025 at 12:21 PM EST|Updated: 23 hours ago

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino blamed North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein for last week’s Charlotte light rail stabbing.

The stabbing, which happened around 4:50 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5, near the light rail station on 25th Street and North Brevard Street, left one person in critical condition.

--> Latest: Undocumented immigrant arrested after latest stabbing on Charlotte train: Everything to know

According to court records, the suspect, identified as 33-year-old Oscar Solarzano, was an undocumented immigrant who had been previously deported. He was arrested in connection with Friday’s stabbing and is facing multiple charges.


Oscar Solarzano(Courtesy: Mecklenburg County Jail)Bovino blames Stein

Just hours after the reported stabbing, Stein posted on X asking for prayers for the victim and noting that he had spoken with the newly appointed Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief about the incident.

“I am pleased that Chief [Estella] Patterson was already surging law enforcement throughout Charlotte with ‘Operation Safe Season,’ and I am grateful to the state law enforcement agencies that are assisting the operation,” Stein wrote in part. “Public safety is a top priority for us all.”

Operation Safe Season is designed to enhance safety in Uptown by increasing police presence during busy holiday weekends.

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•Charlotte, North Carolina

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Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino blamed North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein for last week’s Charlotte light rail stabbing.

The stabbing, which happened around 4:50 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5, near the light rail station on 25th Street and North Brevard Street, left one person in critical condition.

According to court records, the suspect, identified as 33-year-old Oscar Solarzano, was an undocumented immigrant who had been previously deported. He was arrested in connection with Friday’s stabbing and is facing multiple charges.

One day later, Bovino responded to Stein’s post on X, blaming the governor for the stabbing while also stating that the suspect was an undocumented immigrant.

“The blood of innocents is on you,” Bovino wrote in part. “We’ve shown and told you for weeks now, yet you continue choosing illegal aliens over Ma and Pa America.”

In November, Bovino and other Border Patrol agents were deployed to the Queen City as part of “Operation Charlotte’s Web.” The operation, which began on Saturday, Nov. 15, targeted undocumented immigrants in the city, and by Wednesday, Dec. 3, Homeland Security had reported 425 arrests.

Suspect banned from transit months ago
Solarzano was banned from transit in October of 2025, according to Charlotte-Area Transit System officials.

Interim CEO Brent Cagle said the Dec. 5 stabbing was a result of a verbal altercation that escalated on a Blue Line train.
“Through close collaboration between CATS’ private security team (PSS) and CMPD, a suspect [Solarzano] was apprehended swiftly following the incident,” Cagle wrote in part.


Light rail stabbing (Dec. 3) police response(WBTV)

Cagle added that the transit system and its staff will continue to work with police and its private security team to ensure that travelers use public transportation appropriately.