Boy, 4, shot dead while sleeping at home after ‘gang of four teens sprayed 84 bullets into row of houses’
A BOY has been shot in the head while sleeping at home after a gang of four teenagers allegedly sprayed 84 bullets into a row of houses
Caleb Flax, aged four, was rushed to hospital following the horror shooting but succumbed to his injuries hours later.
Four teenagers have been arrested and charged over the alleged murder.
The tragedy unfolded at 3am on September 20 when seven armed individuals arrived by car on a residential North Carolina street, the Daily Mail reported.
Moments later, they allegedly unleashed a torrent of 84 bullets into four occupied homes on Grassy Patch Lane near Auten Road.
Young Caleb was struck in the head by one of the stray shots.
He was raced to hospital but pronounced dead about four hours after the gunshot wound was inflicted.
A woman named Kaley Collins was also critically injured during the alleged brazen shooting, but she survived.
Nine other adults and five more children were inside the homes at the time of the ordeal.
No other deaths or injuries were reported, local authorities said.
On Thursday, cops said they had arrested four teenagers on suspicion of murder, conspiracy, and possession of a stolen vehicle.
A fifth suspect, an adult man, was also cuffed and charged as an accessory after the fact for allegedly helping the gunmen get rid of one of the stolen cars.
The detained suspects are Ar’montae Johnson, 16, Jaylen Barber, 16, Antonio Ladson, 17, Ian Garland, 17, and Terrance Jackson.
Local police 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.”
They 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.”
The suspects were arrested after an extensive police probe, arrest records show.
Detectives found one of the allegedly stolen vehicles with a gun in the driver’s seat the morning after Caleb’s death, court documents say.
Cops also determined an iPhone had been connected to the car, a Mercedes, five days before the shooting, and that the device belonged to Johnson, according to court documents.
Johnson was arrested on September 23 and told cops he allegedly drove the Mercedes to a party on the night of September 19.
He claimed he spoke to several people who said they wanted to shoot up a house in retaliation for a previous shooting, the court documents show.
Johnson allegedly gave them the keys to the Mercedes knowing the individuals were armed.
Johnson also allegedly claimed the group ditched the car and returned in a black Jeep with Ladson behind the wheel.
The remaining suspects believed to have been involved in the deadly shooting have not yet been detained.
Cops say the investigation is ongoing and have urged the public to come forward with any information.
