Arrest of Four Mini Thugs and One Adult in the Death of Caleb Flax

The following is a short overview of the current information regarding the murder of 4 year old Caleb Flax.

CMPD has released the names of five arrestees, it is not known if there are more arrests in process or if the age of some of those arrested has kept CMPD from releasing that information. 

CMPD has stated that a total of 7 suspects each with a weapon exited the vehicle and began firing at the home.

What has been made public:

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department arrested five people in connection with a shooting in Charlotte that killed a 4-year-old child and wounded an adult, authorities said. The incident took place in the 900 block of Grassy Patch Lane.

Officers responded to the neighborhood following a call reporting shots fired into an occupied dwelling. Inside the four residences struck by gunfire, nine other adults and five juveniles were present at the time of the attack but escaped without injury.

According to court documents, seven gunmen traveling in two stolen vehicles arrived in the area at approximately 3:01 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 20. The suspects fired more than 80 rounds into four homes and three vehicles while driving down the street, killing the child, identified in court records as Flax and injuring a woman in an adjacent home.

Investigation Timeline:

Sept. 21: CMPD officers located a vehicle of interest related to this case in Charlotte and determined it had been stolen.

Sept. 23: The Gaston County Police Department and CMPD’s Crime Gun Suppression Team located and arrested Ar’montae Johnson, 16, in Stanley. Johnson was charged with murder, attempted murder, shooting into an occupied dwelling (4 counts), conspiracy to commit a felony, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, and larceny of a motor vehicle (2 counts).

Sept. 25: The Gaston County Police Department and CMPD’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT) arrested Antonio Kahron Ladson, 17, in Dallas. Ladson was charged with murder, attempted murder, shooting into an occupied dwelling (4 counts), conspiracy to commit a felony, and accessory after the fact.

Sept. 29: CMPD’s VCAT and the Union County Sheriff’s Office arrested Jaylen Vontae Barber, 16, in Monroe. Barber was charged with murder, attempted murder, shooting into an occupied dwelling (4 counts), and conspiracy to commit a felony.

Sept. 29: CMPD’s Crime Gun Suppression Team arrested Terrance Jackson, 22, in Charlotte. Jackson was charged with accessory after the fact.

Sept. 30: CMPD’s VCAT arrested Ian Garland, 17, in Charlotte. Garland was charged with murder, attempted murder, shooting into an occupied dwelling (4 counts), conspiracy to commit a felony.

Sept. 30: A second vehicle of interest in this investigation was recovered in Orangeburg, S.C., which was stolen.

‘Unthinkable violence’

“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,” said CMPD Chief of Police Estella D. Patterson. 

“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. 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.”

Those arrested include 4 minors, and one adult. Ar’montae Johnson, 16 Murder Attempted Murder Shooting into an Occupied Dwelling (4 counts) Conspiracy to Commit a Felony Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle Larceny of a Motor Vehicle (2 counts) Antonio Kahron Ladson, 17 Murder Attempted Murder Shooting into an Occupied Dwelling (4 counts) Conspiracy to Commit a Felony Accessory After the Fact Jaylen Vontae Barber, 16 Murder Attempted Murder Shooting into an Occupied Dwelling (4 counts) Conspiracy to Commit a Felony Terrance Jackson, 22 (Mugshot) Accessory After the Fact Ian Garland, 17 Murder Attempted Murder Shooting into an Occupied Dwelling (4 counts) Conspiracy to Commit a Felony

The investigation and subsequent arrests were carried out by detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Homicide Unit, Crime Gun Suppression Team and Violent Criminal Apprehension Team, alongside the department’s Crime Analysis Division and local law enforcement partners.

CMPD Affidavit

ANTONIO KAHRON LADSON, Jr.

On 09/20/2026, at 03:01 hours, officers with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department responded to an Assault with a Deadly Weapon call for service at 938 Grassy Patch Lane, Charlotte NC, 28216. 

Upon first responder's arrival, the 4-year-old juvenile victim (CF) was transported to Levine's Children's Hospital. At 0718 hours, the 4-year-old juvenile (CF) was pronounced deceased by Dr. Singh. The juvenile victim was asleep inside 942 Grassy Patch Ln at the time of the shooting. A second victim, KC (DOB: 02/22/1998) was also shot and sustained serious injuries. KC was inside 938 Grassy Patch Lane at the time of the shooting. 

Detectives obtained video surveillance near the intersection of Grassy Patch Lane and Grass Ridge Drive. The video shows two suspect vehicles arriving on scene and turned off their headlights near 938 Grass Patch Drive at approximately 02:55:00 hrs. Video shows 7 suspects exit the vehicles. 

Based on the video, it appears that each suspect brandished a firearm. Collectively, they fired at least 84 times into four separate occupied residences and three parked unoccupied vehicles at approximately 02:56:00. 

After the shooting, the suspects ran back to the suspect vehicles and both vehicles leave the scene. Detectives located the two suspect vehicles on traffic cameras at the intersection of Sunset Road and Beatties Ford Road at approximately 3:01 AM. 

On September 21, 2026, at approximately 0900 hours, North Division patrol officers located a Mercedes Benz that was parked and unoccupied on Montgomery Gardens Drive, which is approximately a quarter of a mile CMPD R&P 11-2016north of the intersection of Beatties Ford and Sunset Road. 

Officers looked through windows and observed a handgun magazine that was on the driver's seat. Detectives spoke with the known registered owner (MB) who thought that his car was parked in the parking deck at his apartment complex, but after checking, they determined that the vehicle had been stolen 4-5 days ago. 

The owner provided consent to process and search the vehicle. (Stolen vehicle report #20260921-1149-02) Detectives were able to download the infotainment system for the Mercedes Benz and learned that the vehicle had data points at the scene of the shooting on Grassy Patch Lane on September 20, 2026. The front doors were opened at approximately 0255 hours, which coincides with the time on the video of the shooting. 

Detectives learned that a cellphone identified as (Rack's iPhone) had been paired with the stolen vehicle on September 15, 2026, at 3:34 PM. In addition to this location, on September 19, 2026, the vehicle was turned off while it was parked near the 4000 block of Bryant Terrace Drive at approximately 1748 hours. 

The vehicle started on September 20, 2026, at approximately 0029 hours. Video located near this scene confirms the vehicle left the area around 0035 hours. Later that morning (September 20, 2026), detectives located video showing the Mercedes Benz and a black Jeep at the 7-Eleven gas station at 3000 Wilkinson Blvd at approximately 0145 hours. 

The driver of the Mercedes walked inside the business and appeared to pay cash for gasoline. The driver then walked out and appeared to speak to the occupants of the 2021 black Jeep Wrangler driven by Antonio K. Ladson. The driver of the Mercedes Benz was wearing a black over grey hoodie, black pants, and Carolina blue and black sneakers. 

A black over grey hoodie was located inside the Mercedes Benz when it was searched by detectives. Detectives were able to identify "Racks" and identified Ar'montae Johnson (DOB: 03/2/2010) through a phone dump. 

After obtaining his phone records, detectives learned that ArMontae Johnson was at the location of the vehicle thefts. On September 23, 2026, at 0405 hours, a known citizen (NU) reported his 2018 Infiniti stolen from his residence at 3310 S. Tryon Street, which is in close proximity to Empire Street. 

Uselton stated that he parked his vehicle in the garage and last saw it several days ago. Detectives obtained video from the apartment complex that shows the stolen Mercedes Benz pull into the parking deck and a short time later leaves with the white Infiniti following closely. (Stolen vehicle report #20260923-0405-00). 

On September 23, 2026, Ar'montae Johnson was arrested at his residence in Gaston County and transported to the Law Enforcement Center. Johnson waived his right to counsel and spoke with detectives. During the interview, Johnson confessed to the vehicle thefts of the Mercedes Benz on Empire Street and the Infiniti from S. Tryon Street. 

Johnson also admitted that he was at an Air B&B party on Bryant Park Dr on 9/19/2026 and drove the stolen Mercedes Benz to the party.

While at the party, he spoke with several subjects, including "Tone" (identified as Antonio K. Ladson DOB: 12/08/2008, who stated that they wanted to shoot up a house as retaliation for another shooting and he (Johnson) gave them the keys to the stolen Mercedes Benz. Johnson knew that the subjects had firearms. 

The subjects left the Air B&B in the Mercedes and the 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The Mercedes and the Jeep Wrangler drive from the gas station at Wilkinson Blvd/ Ashley Rd, leaving at approximately 0145 hrs, to South Carolina. 

CMPD R&P 11-2016 Detectives reviewed Flock cameras and located the Mercedes, the Infiniti, and the Jeep all travelling together near Carowinds Blvd. and I-77 approximately 30 minutes prior to the murder. 

The license plate displayed on the Jeep in the Flock hit is NC tag #MAK5437 At approximately 0245 hours on 9/20/2026, Detectives located the Jeep on camera at the intersection of Sunset Rd and Beatties Ford Rd heading toward Montgomery Gardens. 

At approximately 0301hrs, after the murder, the Mercedes turns onto Beatties Ford Rd and drives towards Montgomery Gardens which is the location where the Mercedes was recovered from on 09/21/26. The Jeep Wrangler can then be seen leaving the area in the opposite direction it arrived through the same intersection at approximately 0305 hours. When the subjects returned to the party after the shooting, Johnson admitted that the subjects had dumped the Mercedes Benz and Infiniti and returned to the party in a Jeep. 

Video obtained from the Air B&B location confirms the descriptions of the suspects with the video from the scene of the shooting. Johnson had a key reprogrammed for the Infiniti and he drove it to South Carolina and sold it to get rid of the vehicle. Johnson stated he knew about the shooting and knew that a child had been killed in the shooting. Johnson stated that he received a phone call from person he knew to be returning to the Air B&B in the Jeep at 0313 hours on 9/20/2026. Johnson stated that his friend "Tone" drives the Jeep, that his phone number is that he lives in Gaston County. 

A search of that phone number across social media accounts linked the number to the name "Antonio Ladson" Detectives searched for the name "Antonio Ladson" in LINX and located Antonio Kahron Ladson, 12/08/2008 and found that he got a speeding ticket on 7/20/2026 in a black Jeep displaying NC tag #MAK5437. 

The listed home address for Ladson is 1607 Blue Velvet Ln. Dallas, NC. Detectives reviewed video footage from the area of the Air B&B and located the black Jeep on camera before the time of the murder and arriving back at the Air B&B at 0311 hours on 9/20/2026. 

Multiple people are seen exiting the Jeep and running into the garage of the Air B&B at least one suspect is seen carrying a gun. On September 25, 2026, Antonio Ladson was arrested at his residence at 1607 Blue Velvet Lane, Dallas NC for outstanding warrants. 

Detectives requested and were granted a search warrant for his residence. Upon searching his residence, detectives located a Glock 27 .40 caliber in the attic. 

The ammunition in the chamber was a PMC .40 S&W round. There were at least three PMC .40 S&W DCCs collected at the scene of the shooting. In addition to the firearm, detectives collected a bag and sneakers. The bag is described as a shoulder bag and that bag was being worn by a male wearing all black and black/white sneakers. A pair of black and white sneakers were also in the Blink video that was obtained from the Air B&B party. 

The above evidence shows that Antonio Ladson was part of the group of suspects at the Air B&B when the pian was made to commit a retaliation shooting on Grassy Patch Ln. There is evidence that Ladson left the Air B&B with the subjects and the Mercedes that was at the shooting, that they travelled to the gas station on Wilkinson Blvd, then to South Carolina to collect the Infinity used at the shooting. 

The Jeep, driven by Ladson is at the Mercedes dump location prior to the murder and leaves minutes after the Mercedes is dumped, then Ladson drives the other suspects back to the Air B&B and arrives on camera. CMPD R&P 11-2016Based upon the evidence above, evidence exists that Antinio Ladson AKA "Tone" knowingly procured and provided transportation and knowingly helped others commit the crimes of Murder, Attempted Murder and Shooting into an occupied Dwelling and that Antonio's actions contributed to the commission of these crimes. 

| believe that probable cause exists to obtain an arrest warrant for Murder, Attempted Murder and (4X) Shooting into an occupied dwelling.