Police say Caleb Flax was killed when seven armed suspects opened fire on several occupied homes in northwest Charlotte.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Four teenagers have been charged with murder in the death of 4-year-old Caleb Flax, who was fatally shot when gunfire struck several occupied homes in northwest Charlotte early Sept. 20, according to police and court records.
The defendants, ages 16 and 17, are accused in a shooting that investigators say involved seven armed people and two stolen vehicles. Authorities said at least 84 shots were fired into four occupied homes and several parked vehicles along Grassy Patch Lane near Auten Road shortly before 3 a.m. Caleb and an adult in another home were wounded. Caleb was taken to Levine Children’s Hospital, where he later died. The adult survived with serious injuries.
The teenagers charged with murder are Ar’montae Johnson, 16; Jaylen Barber, 16; Antonio Ladson, 17; and Ian Garland, 17, according to court records and local reporting. The defendants also face other charges that vary by individual, including attempted murder, conspiracy and offenses involving gunfire into occupied property. The charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Court documents obtained by WBTV describe the shooting as an alleged retaliatory attack tied to an earlier shooting. Prosecutors said during an Oct. 1 court hearing that Garland’s home was believed to have been the intended target, but investigators allege the group instead fired on a home two doors away. Authorities had not publicly provided further details about the earlier shooting or established that Caleb or his family had any connection to the dispute.
Investigators said the two vehicles used in the attack were stolen. According to court documents, the vehicles arrived on Grassy Patch Lane shortly before 3 a.m. with their headlights off. Police allege seven armed people then got out and opened fire before leaving the neighborhood. Traffic cameras later captured the vehicles in the area, according to investigators.
Police said evidence connected Johnson to a stolen Mercedes-Benz involved in the case. Investigators said an iPhone had previously been paired with the vehicle’s infotainment system. According to court documents, Johnson told detectives that people attending a gathering the night before the shooting had discussed retaliating for another shooting and that he provided access to the vehicle while knowing members of the group were armed.
Authorities arrested Johnson on Sept. 23. Ladson was arrested Sept. 25, Barber on Sept. 29 and Garland on Sept. 30, according to WBTV. Prosecutors have charged the four teenagers as adults. Garland appeared before a judge Oct. 1 and was denied bond, according to WCNC. Court proceedings for the other defendants were also underway as investigators continued working to identify everyone allegedly involved.
A fifth person, 22-year-old Terrance Jackson Jr., has been charged with accessory after the fact to murder. Investigators allege Jackson helped dispose of a stolen Infiniti used during the shooting after one of the teenage suspects contacted him. Court records cited by WBTV allege Jackson helped arrange for the vehicle to receive a replacement key and later assisted in selling it in South Carolina. Jackson has not been accused of firing a weapon during the attack.
The case began when Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers responded to reports of gunfire on Grassy Patch Lane. Officers found Caleb and an adult suffering from gunshot wounds. Investigators later determined that multiple occupied residences had been hit. Police said 16 people were inside the affected homes when the shooting occurred, according to local reporting.
Authorities have described Caleb as an unintended victim of the attack. Local reports said he had been asleep when the gunfire entered the home. His death prompted an intensive homicide investigation involving surveillance footage, vehicle evidence, cellphone information and interviews. Caleb’s family held funeral services as additional arrests were announced this week.
Police believe seven people were directly involved in the shooting, while four teenagers have been charged with murder as of Friday morning. The investigation remained active Oct. 2, and Charlotte-Mecklenburg police planned to provide additional information at a briefing later Friday. Authorities had not announced arrests of every person they believe participated in the gunfire.
Author note: Last updated October 2, 2026.