Four teenagers have been charged as adults with the murder of four-year-old Caleb Flax, who was shot in the head while sleeping at his home in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Police said seven armed people emerged from two stolen cars shortly before 3am on September 20 and fired 84 rounds at four occupied homes on a residential street.
Caleb was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead four hours later. An adult woman, Kaley Collins, was critically injured, while nine other adults and five children inside the homes escaped injury.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said the teenage suspects are Ar’montae Johnson, 16, Jaylen Barber, 16, Antonio Ladson, 17, and Ian Garland, 17. They face charges including murder, conspiracy and possession of a stolen vehicle.
Terrance Jackson, 22, has also been arrested and charged as an accessory after the fact. He is accused of helping to dispose of one of the vehicles used in the shooting.
Chief of Police Estella D Patterson said: “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.”
She added: “From the moment this investigation began, our detectives have been relentless in their pursuit of justice for the victims and their families.”
“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.”
Police investigation into Charlotte shooting
Investigators found one of the stolen vehicles, a Mercedes-Benz, the morning after the shooting. A handgun magazine was discovered in the driver’s seat, and police obtained permission from the registered owner to search the car.
Data downloaded from the Mercedes’ infotainment system showed it had been at the scene of the shooting. Investigators also found that an iPhone belonging to Johnson had connected to the vehicle five days earlier.
GPS data from the phone allegedly placed Johnson at the location where the Mercedes and the second stolen vehicle, a 2018 Infiniti, had been taken.
Johnson was arrested on September 23. According to court documents, he told police he had driven the Mercedes to an Airbnb party on the night of September 19, where people discussed shooting a house in retaliation for an earlier shooting.
He allegedly said he gave the group the keys to the Mercedes knowing they were armed. When they returned, he said, they had abandoned the Mercedes and Infiniti and arrived in a Jeep driven by Ladson.
Ladson was arrested on September 25. Police searching his home found a Glock 27 in the attic, loaded with the same type of ammunition as some of the rounds recovered at the scene.
Detectives later found text messages between Johnson and Barber from the night of the shooting. Barber was arrested on September 29 and allegedly admitted leaving the Airbnb party in the stolen Infiniti and taking part in the attack.
Johnson and Barber both allegedly identified Garland as the driver of the Mercedes. Garland was arrested on September 30.
Police said the teenagers’ accounts were supported by extensive surveillance footage. Jackson was arrested on September 29 and is accused of helping Johnson reprogramme a key for the Infiniti and arrange a buyer in South Carolina.
Johnson allegedly drove the Infiniti to the buyer and sold it for $1,200, which he then shared with Jackson, according to court documents.
The investigation remains active and ongoing. Police said other people allegedly involved in Caleb’s murder have not yet been arrested.
