Inset: Caleb Flax (Rosadale Funeral Home). Background: Charlotte-Mecklenburg police investigate a shooting that killed Flax, 4, on Sept. 20, 2026 (WSOC/YouTube).
A 4-year-old North Carolina boy was killed in his own bed when seven people fired more than 80 bullets into four different homes in the dark of night, according to cops.
Ar'montae Johnson and Jaylen Vontae Barber, both 16, along with 17-year-olds Antonio Kahron Ladson and Ian Garland, are charged with murder in the death of Caleb Flax. Terrance Jackson, 22, is charged with accessory after the fact.
The shooting occurred around 3 a.m. on Sept. 20 in the 900 block of Grassy Patch Lane in Charlotte. Cops arrived to find Caleb and an adult victim in another home suffering from gunshot wounds. Paramedics rushed both to the hospital where Caleb died while the adult survived serious injuries.
In all, there were 14 people inside the homes, including five children.
"Caleb should have been safe in his own bed. Instead, his life was ended in an act of unthinkable violence, and another victim was wounded. From the moment this investigation began, our detectives have been relentless in their pursuit of justice for the victims and their families," Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Estella D. Patterson said in a statement.
Video showed seven people exit two cars with their headlights shut off and fire 84 bullets into the four houses, an arrest affidavit said. The suspects hopped back into the two cars and fled.
Cops later found one of the cars, a Mercedes-Benz, about a quarter of a mile from the scene. A handgun magazine was in the front seat. Investigators contacted the owner, who said he thought the car was parked at his apartment complex parking deck, but was actually stolen a few days prior, cops wrote.
The second car used in the shooting, a 2018 Infiniti, was also stolen, police said.
Johnson was identified as one of the suspects through surveillance video and car location data. After receiving his Miranda rights, Johnson reportedly admitted to stealing both cars.
He told investigators he was at a party on Sept. 19, where he spoke with several people who said they wanted to "shoot at windows as retaliation for another shooting," detectives wrote. Johnson said he gave the keys to the Mercedes to several people, knowing they had guns, the affidavit stated.
The people returned to the party in a Jeep after dumping the Mercedes and Infiniti, cops wrote.
Police said Johnson contacted Jackson to go retrieve the Infiniti. They drove the car to South Carolina, where they sold it for $1,200 and split the cash, per police.
Over the course of 10 days, investigators have arrested suspects and recovered the two stolen cars. There are still suspects outstanding.
"Much of that work happens behind the scenes. It is the methodical, persistent work of detectives putting the pieces of a case together, following every lead, examining evidence, conducting interviews and working to identify everyone responsible. While that work may not always be visible to the public, it is happening every day," Patterson said Thursday. "The five arrests announced today are a direct result of that unwavering commitment and we will not rest until every person responsible for this tragedy is brought to justice."
The teenage suspects are also charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to commit a felony and four counts of shooting into an occupied dwelling.
Caleb's grandfather, Frank Abdul, told local ABC affiliate WSOC that he is happy some of the suspects are behind bars.
"When the chief came out here, she said they were gonna do their job, and we are thankful for that," he said.
The family plans to follow the case until it receives justice.
"We're ready for every court date they put out there," he said.
Caleb was his mother's only child. They shared an "unbreakable" bond, a GoFundMe stated.
"She is deeply hurt and going through an unimaginable traumatic process as she faces the loss of her son," the description said.