Union County sheriff's deputies helped arrest a 16-year-old in Monroe on Tuesday, Sept. 29, in connection with the shooting death of a 4-year-old boy in Charlotte.
Jaylen Vontae Barber was taken into custody by the Union County Sheriff's Office (UCSO) and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT), WSOC TV first reported. Barber faces charges of murder, attempted murder, four counts of shooting into an occupied dwelling and conspiracy to commit a felony. He is being held without bond.
The arrest stems from a Sept. 20 shooting in the 900 block of Grassy Patch Lane in Charlotte. According to court documents cited by WSOC TV, seven gunmen traveling in two stolen vehicles fired at least 84 rounds into four homes and three parked vehicles around 3 a.m. that Sunday. Four-year-old Caleb Flax was killed. A woman in a neighboring home was wounded.
Nine other adults and five juveniles were inside the four homes at the time and were not injured.
Barber's arrest was one of five announced by CMPD on Thursday, Oct. 1. The other suspects are Ar'montae Johnson, 16, arrested Sept. 23 in Stanley with Gaston County Police; Antonio Kahron Ladson, 17, arrested Sept. 25 in Dallas with Gaston County Police; Terrance Jackson, 22, arrested Sept. 29 in Charlotte; and Ian Garland, 17, arrested Sept. 30 in Charlotte. All face murder-related charges except Jackson, who is charged with accessory after the fact and held on $2 million bond.
Prosecutors allege Garland was the intended target of a separate shooting on Silver Birch Drive hours before the Grassy Patch Lane attack. Garland and others then allegedly drove a stolen Mercedes to the scene in retaliation, according to court documents.
CMPD Chief Estella Patterson said in a statement Thursday that detectives had pursued the case since the night of the shooting and would continue until everyone responsible is held accountable.
Frank Abdul, Caleb Flax's grandfather, told WSOC TV on Thursday he was grateful for the arrests.
"When the chief came out here, she said they were gonna do their job, and we are thankful for that," Abdul said.
Investigators recovered a second stolen vehicle linked to the case in Orangeburg, S.C., on Sept. 30. Queen City News reported that surveillance video, traffic cameras and data from the vehicle helped connect it to the shooting. A handgun magazine was found inside.
CMPD said the investigation is active and more arrests are possible. The department scheduled a press conference for Friday, Oct. 2, at 12:30 p.m., WCCB Charlotte reported.
The Union County Sheriff's Office has not released a public statement about its role in the arrest. Residents with information can contact the UCSO at (704) 283-3789.
