Four teens charged over fatal shooting of Caleb Flax, 4, in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police announced five arrests, four teenagers and one adult, over the 20 September shooting that killed four-year-old Caleb Flax as he slept. Seven suspects are said to have fired about 84 shots into four homes.
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The story, neutrally told
MixedFour-year-old Caleb Flax was shot and killed while sleeping in his home on Grassy Patch Lane in Charlotte, North Carolina, at about 3 a.m. on Sunday 20 September. The IndependentLC “Caleb Flax was killed in the rampage that took place on Grassy Patch Lane, Charlotte, at approximately 3 a.m. on Sunday September 20” Read at The Independent ↗ New York PostR “Caleb Flax was shot in his Charlotte home in the early hours of Sept. 20” Read at New York Post ↗ MixedAccording to court documents seen by WBTV, seven armed suspects in two stolen cars, a Mercedes and an Infiniti, fired a total of 84 shots into his home and three others; Caleb was pronounced dead at hospital about four hours later, and an adult, Kaley Collins, was critically injured. New York PostR “Seven armed suspects were traveling in two stolen cars – a Mercedes and an Infiniti – when they stopped in Flax’s neighborhood and allegedly sprayed a total of 84 shots into his home and three other properties” Read at New York Post ↗ The IndependentLC “Flax was hit in the head by one of the bullets and rushed to hospital but died four hours later.” Read at The Independent ↗ LeftCaleb's mother, Bryanna Flax, told WCCB he was lying beside her when it happened and that she tried to cover his body. The IndependentLC “He was laying beside me when it happened and I tried to cover his body, but I guess he had already got hit.” Read at The Independent ↗
MixedOn Thursday 1 October, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police (CMPD) announced five arrests: Ar’montae Johnson, 16; Jaylen Vontae Barber, 16; Antonio Kahron Ladson, 17; and Ian Garland, 17, plus Terrance Jackson, 22, the only adult so far. The IndependentLC “The CMPD named the four teens it had arrested as: Ar’montae Johnson, 16; Jaylen Vontae Barber, 16; Antonio Kahron Ladson, 17; and Ian Garland, 17.” Read at The Independent ↗ New York PostR “Terrance Jackson, 22, is the only adult who has been charged so far.” Read at New York Post ↗ MixedThe teens face charges including murder, attempted murder, shooting into an occupied dwelling and conspiracy to commit a felony; the Independent also lists four counts of shooting into an occupied dwelling and accessory after the fact. Jackson is charged with accessory after the fact. The IndependentLC “All four have been charged with murder, attempted murder, shooting into an occupied dwelling (four counts), conspiracy to commit a felony and accessory after the fact.” Read at The Independent ↗ New York PostR “The four teens have also been charged with shooting into an occupied dwelling, attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit a felony.” Read at New York Post ↗ MixedInvestigators found the abandoned Mercedes the day after the shooting, with a handgun magazine inside, and linked it to Johnson because his iPhone had connected to the car on 15 September. New York PostR “it was found abandoned with a handgun magazine inside” Read at New York Post ↗ The IndependentLC “investigators found the Mercedes abandoned a day after the attack and were able to link it to Johnson after discovering that his iPhone had been connected to it five days earlier.” Read at The Independent ↗
MixedJohnson reportedly told police he drove the car to an Airbnb party the night before and handed the keys to people he knew were armed, who said they wanted to “shoot at windows as retaliation for another shooting.” New York PostR “He told cops several people wanted to “shoot at windows as retaliation for another shooting.”” Read at New York Post ↗ The IndependentLC “handed over the keys to associates he knew to be armed” Read at The Independent ↗ MixedJohnson and Barber reportedly told police Garland drove the Mercedes; Garland was arrested on 30 September. Police found a Glock 27 with rounds similar to those at the scene at Ladson's home during a search. New York PostR “Both Jaylen Barber, 16, and Johnson allegedly told police that Ian Garland, 17, was the driver of the stolen Mercedes. Garland was arrested on September 30.” Read at New York Post ↗ The IndependentLC “A Glok 27 containing rounds matching those recovered from the scene was duly found at Ladson’s home” Read at The Independent ↗ MixedJackson allegedly helped Johnson reprogram a key for the Infiniti before it was sold for $1,200 to a buyer in South Carolina; the car was found in Orangeburg, about 140 miles away. New York PostR “The Infiniti was found in Orangeburg, South Carolina — some 140 miles away from the scene of the shooting.” Read at New York Post ↗ The IndependentLC “helped Johnson reprogram a key to the 2018 Infiniti involved before they sold it on to a buyer in South Carolina for $1,200” Read at The Independent ↗
MixedPolice Chief Estella D. Patterson said Caleb “should have been safe in his own bed” and that police would not rest until everyone responsible is brought to justice; the investigation remains open. The IndependentLC ““Caleb should have been safe in his own bed,” CMPD Police Chief Estella D Patterson said.” Read at The Independent ↗ New York PostR “Cops say the investigation remains open.” Read at New York Post ↗ MixedMourners held a vigil and a balloon release in Charlotte's Enderly Park, and a fundraiser has been set up for his mother, Bryanna Flax, whose only child he was. The IndependentLC “a balloon release event in Charlotte’s Enderly Park, and a GoFundMe page has been set up to support his grieving mother.” Read at The Independent ↗ New York PostR “Hundreds of mourners attended a vigil for the boy, a week after his death.” Read at New York Post ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- The Independent leads with the child victim and the scale of the gunfire, quoting the police chief and family, and sets out the charges in detail.
- Emphasis
- Victim's family, police quotes, full charge list including accessory after the fact for the teens.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the vehicle-recovery location distance (Orangeburg, 140 miles).
- Charged language
- “senseless”“act of unthinkable violence”
- For example
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“Four year-old boy shot dead while sleeping as 80 bullets fired in drive-by: ‘He should have been safe in his bed’” — The Independent
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- The New York Post leads with the arrests and the boy killed in his own bed, and details the investigative trail linking the suspects.
- Emphasis
- Arrests and murder charges, suspects' alleged admissions, family tributes.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not list accessory after the fact among the teens' charges; does not mention the Jeep.
- Charged language
- “rampage”“busted”“act of unthinkable violence”
- For example
-
“four teens have since been charged with his murder” — New York Post
What every side reports
- Caleb Flax, 4, was killed in his Charlotte home on 20 September.
- Seven suspects in a stolen Mercedes and Infiniti allegedly fired 84 shots into four homes.
- CMPD announced five arrests on Thursday: four teens and Terrance Jackson, 22.
- The investigation remains open.
Where accounts differ
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Number of shots and school timing
- Left
- Headline says 80 bullets; body says at least 84. Says he was weeks away from starting school.
- Right
- Says 84 shots; says he was killed weeks after starting school.
Caleb Flax person
Caleb's family describe him as a 'force' whose smile 'could light up a room'; his mother says she tried to shield him.
““Flax’s mom, Bryanna Flax, told WCCB.” — New York Post
“Caleb was a force and his smile could light up a room.” — The Independent
Left1 article
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Sympathetic Victim-centred account stressing the volume of gunfire and police and family statements.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
-
North Carolina boy Caleb Flax, 4, shot and killed while sleeping in own home as four teens arrested
Sympathetic Arrest-focused report on a child killed in bed, with the evidence trail and family tributes.
- 2 Oct 10:42 First New York PostR North Carolina boy Caleb Flax, 4, shot and killed while sleeping in own home as four teens arrested
- 2 Oct 14:53 +4h 11m The IndependentLC Four year-old boy shot dead while sleeping as 80 bullets fired in drive-by: ‘He should have been safe in his bed’
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.