Police say seven armed teenagers fired at least 84 rounds into four occupied homes during an alleged retaliation shooting.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Four teenagers have been charged with murder in the death of 4-year-old Caleb Flax, who was killed when gunfire struck several occupied homes in northwest Charlotte on Sept. 20, police said.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said Friday that investigators believe seven armed teenagers were involved in the shooting on Grassy Patch Lane near Auten Road. At least 84 rounds were fired in less than a minute into four occupied homes and several vehicles, according to police and court records. Caleb was struck while inside a home and later died at Levine Children’s Hospital. An adult in another home was seriously wounded and survived.
The teenagers charged with murder are Ar’Montae Johnson, 16; Jaylen Barber, 16; Antonio Ladson, 17; and Ian Garland, 17. Authorities said the four have been charged as adults and also face additional allegations that include attempted murder, conspiracy and multiple counts related to shooting into occupied homes. The specific charges vary by defendant. The charges are allegations, and the cases have not been resolved in court.
Police Chief Estella Patterson said during an Oct. 2 briefing that detectives believe additional people may have been involved in the attack or its planning. Investigators displayed dozens of evidence markers representing the shots recovered during the investigation. Patterson said the shooting affected not only Caleb’s family but the wider Charlotte community and said detectives would continue working to identify everyone responsible.
Court documents described the shooting as an alleged act of retaliation connected to gunfire the previous day. Prosecutors said during an Oct. 1 court hearing that Garland’s home had been the intended target of that earlier shooting, but another house nearby was struck instead. Investigators allege people later gathered at a rental property and discussed retaliating. Authorities have not publicly established any connection between Caleb or his family and the dispute.
According to police and court records, two stolen vehicles arrived on Grassy Patch Lane shortly before 3 a.m. Sept. 20 with their headlights off. Investigators say seven people, all believed to be teenagers and carrying firearms, got out and opened fire before leaving the neighborhood. Police said four homes and three parked vehicles were hit. Sixteen people were in the affected homes when the gunfire began.
Investigators said surveillance video, traffic cameras, vehicle information, cellphone data and interviews helped them trace people and vehicles allegedly connected to the shooting. Court records say an iPhone had previously been paired with a stolen Mercedes-Benz later tied to the investigation. Police arrested Johnson on Sept. 23, followed by Ladson on Sept. 25, Barber on Sept. 29 and Garland on Sept. 30.
A fifth defendant, 22-year-old Terrance Jackson Jr., is charged with accessory after the fact to murder. Investigators allege Jackson helped dispose of a stolen Infiniti believed to have been used after the shooting. Court records cited by local news organizations allege he helped arrange for a replacement key and later assisted in selling the vehicle in South Carolina. Authorities have not accused Jackson of firing a weapon during the attack.
At a Friday briefing, police said the Sept. 20 shooting followed a chain of events that investigators were still working to reconstruct. Authorities said they recovered vehicles and other evidence while coordinating arrests in North Carolina and continuing to examine whether others helped plan, carry out or conceal the shooting. Police have said they believe all seven people who directly opened fire were teenagers.
Local court reporting showed the four teenagers charged with murder had been denied bond, while Jackson received a $2 million secured bond on the accessory charge. The investigation remained active Friday evening, and police said the five arrests announced so far may not be the final arrests connected to Caleb’s death.
Author note: Last updated October 2, 2026.