CHARLOTTE, N.C. — CATS reduced armed security personnel by at least 40% in recent years and failed to follow competitive bidding practices when expanding a contractor's role, according to a state auditor's report released Tuesday that examined safety failures before a deadly stabbing on the light rail.

The North Carolina Office of the State Auditor launched its investigation after the Aug. 22 stabbing death of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska on the LYNX Blue Line, which gained national attention after surveillance video showed the violent attack.

State Auditor Dave Boliek's preliminary report found that the Charlotte Area Transit System now has just 39 armed security personnel, down from at least 68 under a previous contract that ended in 2023. The current staffing level doesn't allow for arm

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