Caleb Flax: Sixth Arrest in Charlotte 4-Year-Old's Killing

Caleb Flax, a 4-year-old boy, was shot and killed while he slept in his home in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sunday, September 20, 2026, when gunfire struck four houses on Grassy Patch Lane. On Wednesday, October 7, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department announced a sixth arrest in the case: Dominic Springs, 18, who is charged with murder.

Police say seven armed people fired at least 84 rounds into the homes in under a minute. Five people are now charged with murder and a sixth is charged as an accessory after the fact. Caleb's family says the arrests are a first step, but that they still do not understand why it happened. Everyone charged is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

Who Was Caleb Flax?

Caleb was the only child of his mother, Bryanna Flax, according to WCCB Charlotte and a fundraiser set up by relatives. WCCB reported that she was beside him in bed when the shooting began.

At a vigil at Enderly Park on Saturday, September 26, his grandfather Brian Beatty described him to WBTV. "Caleb was a force and his smile could light up a room," he said.

Another grandfather, identified by WBTV as Frank Abdullah Hampton, spoke to the station this week. He said Caleb loved playing his games and was loved by the people he met. "He just loved everybody," he said.

The family's GoFundMe page says donations will go toward funeral and memorial costs and grief support for his mother.

What Happened on Grassy Patch Lane?

According to a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department release, officers were called to the 900 block of Grassy Patch Lane at about 3:01 a.m. on September 20. They found that four homes had been hit by gunfire and that two people had been shot.

Caleb was taken to Levine Children's Hospital, WBTV reported, where he was pronounced dead shortly after 7 a.m. An adult in a neighboring home was also shot and had injuries that police described as not life-threatening. Nine other adults and five children were inside the four homes and were not hurt, the police release said.

Court documents described by WBTV and WCCB say two stolen cars pulled up with their headlights off, and that seven armed people got out and fired at least 84 times at four occupied houses and three parked vehicles before leaving.

Prosecutors and court filings, as reported by WBTV and WSOC-TV, describe the gunfire as retaliation for an earlier shooting that had targeted the home of one of the teenagers now charged. That account has not been tested at trial.

Has Anyone Been Arrested?

Yes. Police have announced six arrests since September 23.

The most recent is Dominic Springs, 18. The department said its Violent Criminal Apprehension Team found and arrested him in Charlotte. He is charged with murder, attempted murder, four counts of shooting into an occupied dwelling and conspiracy to commit a felony. WBTV reported that he appeared before a judge on Thursday, October 8, and was denied bond.

Four other defendants, two aged 16 and two aged 17, face murder, attempted murder, shooting into an occupied dwelling and conspiracy charges, according to the police release. Police have named them, and WBTV reports they are charged as adults. This article does not name the defendants who are under 18.

Terrance Jackson, 22, was arrested in Charlotte on Tuesday, September 29, and charged as an accessory after the fact. He is not accused of firing a weapon, WBTV reported. WSOC-TV and WCCB reported his bond as $2 million.

What Police Have Said

"Caleb should have been safe in his own bed," Chief Estella D. Patterson said in the department's statement announcing the first five arrests.

At a news conference on Friday, October 2, she said the shooting went beyond one household. "It pierced the heart of an entire community," she said, according to WBTV.

Patterson also said investigators do not think they have found everyone responsible. "We believe there are more involved," she said, according to WFAE.

What Caleb's Family Wants to Know

Hampton told WBTV that the family has good days and bad days, and that children on the street no longer play outside. He said anyone who takes part in violence like this should be charged as an adult.

He also had a message for those responsible. "Homes don't shoot back," he said.

What Happens Next

The cases against all six defendants are pending. Police have said seven armed people took part and that others may have been involved, so more arrests are possible.

Anyone with information can call 704-432-8477 to speak with a homicide detective, or leave an anonymous tip with Charlotte Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

Timeline of the Caleb Flax Case

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Caleb Flax?

Caleb Flax was a 4-year-old boy from northwest Charlotte and the only child of his mother, Bryanna Flax. He was shot while asleep at home on September 20, 2026, and died at the hospital that morning.

How many people are charged in Caleb Flax's death?

Six. Five are charged with murder and related offenses: Dominic Springs, 18, and four teenagers aged 16 and 17. Terrance Jackson, 22, is charged as an accessory after the fact. All are presumed innocent.

Why did the shooting on Grassy Patch Lane happen?

Prosecutors and court documents, as reported by local stations, describe it as retaliation for an earlier shooting. That account has not been tested in court, and Caleb's family says they still do not know why it happened.

MotiveX covers cases like this in documentary form on YouTube.

Sources

• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department: case update on the North Division homicide investigation
• WBTV: report on the family's response after the sixth arrest
• WBTV: report on the charges against Dominic Springs
• WSOC-TV: report on the sixth suspect charged
• WSOC-TV: report on the first five arrests
• WBTV: report on the police news conference
• WBTV: report on the court documents
• WBTV: report on the family vigil at Enderly Park
• WFAE: report on the five arrests and the chief's comments
• WCCB Charlotte: report on the sixth arrest
• WCCB Charlotte: report on the family's call for answers
• GoFundMe: family fundraiser in memory of Caleb Flax