Case Update: Homicide Investigation in the North Division

Published on October 07, 2026

Case Update:CMPD Announces Sixth Arrest in Homicide of 4-Year-Old Child

Charlotte, N.C. – (Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026) – As a result of the continued investigation, detectives identified Dominic Springs, 18, as a suspect in connection to this case and obtained warrants for his arrest.

On Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, CMPD’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT) located and arrested Dominic Springs in Charlotte.

Springs was transported to the Law Enforcement Center (LEC) to interview with homicide detectives. Upon conclusion of the interview, Springs was transferred into the custody of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office.

Springs is charged with:

Murder
Attempted Murder
Shooting into an Occupied Dwelling (4 counts)
Conspiracy to Commit a Felony

The victim’s families have been notified of the arrest.

As additional information develops, it will be released by the CMPD's Public Affairs Office. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call 704-432-8477 (TIPS) and speak directly to a Homicide Unit detective. Detective Trietley is the lead detective assigned to this case. The public can also leave information anonymously by calling Charlotte Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600, using the Charlotte Crime Stoppers P3 Tips Mobile App or by visiting the Charlotte Crime Stoppers website. For additional information about this case, please refer to the report: 20260920-0301-00.

###

Case Update: Four Juveniles, One Adult Arrested in Homicide of 4-Year-Old Child

Charlotte, N.C. – (Monday, Oct. 5, 2026) – Through continued investigative efforts, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s (CMPD) University City Division Detectives have filed the following additional charges against Ian Garland, 17, including:

Shooting into an Occupied Dwelling (2 counts)
Possession of Firearm by Minor (6 counts)
Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Intent to Kill (2 counts)
Felony Conspiracy
Attempted Larceny of Motor Vehicle
Damage to Property (5 counts)

The cases related to these charges are: 20260601-0646-00, 20260601-0604-00, 20260601-0542-00, 20260601-0443-01, 20260601-0443-00 and 20260601-0419-02.

###

Case Update: Four Juveniles, One Adult Arrested in Homicide of 4-Year-Old Child

Charlotte, N.C. – (Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026) – Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Homicide Unit, Crime Gun Suppression Team, and Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT), working alongside local law enforcement partners and with support from CMPD’s Crime Analysis Division, have arrested five individuals in connection with the senseless shooting that killed a 4-year-old child and wounded an additional adult victim.

On Sunday, Sept. 20, at approximately 3:01 a.m., officers responded to an Assault with a Deadly Weapon/Shots Fired into Occupied Dwelling call for service in the 900 block of Grassy Patch Lane. Upon arrival, officers observed that 4 residences had been shot. In addition to the 2 victims who sustained gunshot wounds, there were an additional 9 adult victims and 5 juvenile victims who were not injured but were inside the residences at the time of the incident.

“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.”

Investigation Timeline:

On Monday, Sept. 21, officers in CMPD's North Division located a vehicle of interest related to this case in Charlotte, N.C., and determined it had been stolen.

On Wednesday, Sept. 23, the Gaston County Police Department and CMPD’s Crime Gun Suppression Team located and arrested Ar’montae Johnson, 16, in Stanley, N.C. Johnson was brought to CMPD Headquarters and interviewed by detectives. Following the interview, he was charged with:

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)

On Friday, Sept. 25, the Gaston County Police Department and CMPD’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT) arrested Antonio Kahron Ladson, 17, in Dallas, N.C. Ladson was brought to CMPD Headquarters and interviewed by detectives. Following the interview, he was charged with:

Murder
Attempted Murder
Shooting into an Occupied Dwelling (4 counts)
Conspiracy to Commit a Felony
Accessory After the Fact

On Tuesday, Sept. 29, CMPD’s VCAT and the Union County Sheriff’s Office arrested Jaylen Vontae Barber, 16, in Monroe, N.C. Barber was brought to CMPD Headquarters and interviewed by detectives. Following the interview, he was charged with:

Murder
Attempted Murder
Shooting into an Occupied Dwelling (4 counts)
Conspiracy to Commit a Felony

Also on Tuesday, Sept. 29, CMPD’s Crime Gun Suppression Team arrested Terrance Jackson, 22, in Charlotte, N.C. Jackson was brought to CMPD Headquarters and interviewed by detectives. Following the interview, he was charged with:

Accessory After the Fact

On Wednesday, Sept. 30, CMPD’s VCAT arrested Ian Garland, 17, in Charlotte, N.C. Garland was brought to CMPD Headquarters and interviewed by detectives. Following the interview, he was charged with:

Murder
Attempted Murder
Shooting into an Occupied Dwelling (4 counts)
Conspiracy to Commit a Felony

Also on Sept. 30, a second vehicle of interest in this investigation was recovered in Orangeburg, S.C., and was determined to have been stolen.

This investigation is active and ongoing, and CMPD is still requesting any information the public can provide.

CMPD will host a press conference on Friday, Oct. 2 at 12:30 p.m. to provide additional information about the arrests and investigation. The press conference will be held in the Command Center of the Law Enforcement Center (LEC) in Uptown (601 E. Trade Street). All media partners able to attend this press conference are asked to pass through the security checkpoint at the main entrance of the building. A limited number of street-level parking spaces will be reserved for media partners at the LEC. Please arrive by 12:15 p.m. as the press conference will begin promptly at 12:30 p.m.

The press conference can also be viewed on the Government Channel and will be streamed live on the following:

###

Charlotte, N.C. – (Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026) – The victim in this case has been identified as Caleb Flax, 4.

The victim’s next of kin has been notified of his death.

The investigation into this case is active and ongoing. As additional information develops, it will be released by the CMPD's Public Affairs Office. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call 704-432-8477 (TIPS) and speak directly to a Homicide Unit detective. Detective Trietley is the lead detective assigned to this case. The public can also leave information anonymously by calling Charlotte Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600, using the Charlotte Crime Stoppers P3 Tips Mobile App or by visiting the Charlotte Crime Stoppers website. For additional information about this case, please refer to the report: 20260920-0301-00 .

###

Charlotte, N.C. – (Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026) – Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s (CMPD) Homicide Unit are conducting a homicide investigation in the North Division.

On Sunday, Sept. 20, at approximately 3:01 a.m., officers responded to an Assault with a Deadly Weapon call for service in the 900 block of Grassy Patch Lane. Upon arrival, officers observed that multiple residences had been shot into. Officers then located two victims with gunshot wounds. One juvenile victim sustained life-threatening injuries, and an adult victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

MEDIC arrived on scene and transported both victims to the hospital.

This morning, at approximately 7:18 a.m., the juvenile victim was pronounced deceased at the hospital.

Homicide Unit detectives responded to the scene to conduct an investigation. Crime Scene Search responded to process the scene and collect physical evidence. Representatives from CMPD’s Operations Command, Victim Services and Charlotte Fire Department also assisted.

The investigation into this case is active and ongoing. As additional information develops, it will be released by the CMPD's Public Affairs Office. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call 704-432-8477 (TIPS) and speak directly to a Homicide Unit detective. Detective Trietley is the lead detective assigned to this case. The public can also leave information anonymously by calling Charlotte Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600, using the Charlotte Crime Stoppers P3 Tips Mobile App or by visiting the Charlotte Crime Stoppers website . For additional information about this case, please refer to the report: 20260920-0301-00 .

###