Alexis Cancel-Soto, 21, was sentenced on March 19 to life, suspending all but 30 years for the murder of Cameran Holt, 19, during a Federal Hill shootout on Oct. 27, 2024.
Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Nicole K. Barmore handed down the sentence after hearing from several members of Holt’s family who shared emotionally fraught impact statements with the court.
“His actions robbed us of so much,” said Holt’s aunt. “I hope his time in prison is spent trying to better himself… and I hope he never forgets her face.” Holt was the unintended victim of a shooting by Cancel-Soto following a dispute with others during a night out.
Through tears, Holt’s grandfather admitted he could not forgive Cancel-Soto, noting Holt’s loss has affected not only her family, but also her neighborhood.
The victim’s mother confessed that the “last year has been brutal” for her and her other children, expressing regret and pain that Holt’s younger siblings will no longer grow up knowing their older sister.
Cancel-Soto, who testified at trial that Holt had been a friend whom he never intended to hurt, declined his right to address the court. Defense attorney Marci T. Johnson spoke on his behalf, describing the shooting as a “horribly unfortunate” event that “could have played out [in] so many different ways.”
Despite the tragedy, Johnson asked the court to suspend a portion of Cancel-Soto’s life sentence, indicating his tumultuous childhood as an immigrant who struggled with ADHD throughout his school years.
Originally born in Puerto Rico, Cancel-Soto was reportedly forced at a young age to move under his grandparents’ wing to the United States. The change, which Johnson called “traumatic,” occurred after Cancel-Soto’s mother was arrested in Puerto Rico and sentenced to eight years behind bars – thus unable to care for her son.
Cancel-Soto is also father to a three-year-old girl, Johnson said, and “has significant feelings about not being able to watch her grow up.”
“I do believe this young man is redeemable,” Johnson told the court. She urged Judge Barmore to consider recommending her client to the Patuxent Youth Program, which aims to provide incarcerated individuals with psychiatric, social and rehabilitative services.
Judge Barmore ultimately agreed. In a statement she gave prior to sentencing, she called the incident that led to Holt’s death “heart wrenching.”
“His friend lost her life because of his actions, and the court has to take that into consideration,” she said. “It’s just the most tragic thing. Nothing that this court does is going to change what happened on Oct. 27, 2024.”
Cancel-Soto was convicted last September of first-degree murder, attempted murder, conspiracy, reckless endangerment and four gun violations. Per Johnson’s requests, Judge Barmore agreed to set the sentences for each charge to run concurrent. Upon completion of his sentence, Cancel-Soto will also be required to serve five years of supervised probation and register as a gun offender upon release.
“Our office advocated for a stronger sentence of Life plus 30 years to fully reflect the severity of this loss and the profound impact this crime has had on both the Holt family and our community,” Baltimore State’s Attorney Ivan Bates in a release.
