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By
Claire Schreiber
, Carmen Gregg , Tomas Coles - February 3, 2025
Attempted Murder
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Court
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Shooting
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Suspects
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Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Robert Taylor sentenced Arthur McCaden, 19, to life imprisonment in connection to four T-Mobile armed robbery incidents from April 2023, including one where he shot and killed 23-year-old employee Fabian Sanchez Gonzalez.
“Cold-hearted and calculated,” the prosecution called McCaden at his sentencing Jan. 31. “He shows no remorse despite the amount of evidence, he doesn’t believe he did anything wrong.”
McCaden was charged with first-degree murder, two counts of attempted armed robbery, three counts of firearm use in a felony violent crime, three counts of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, three counts of conspiracy to use firearm in a felony violent crime, two counts of first-degree assault, and one count each of armed robbery, possession of a firearm as a minor, illegal possession of a regulated firearm, and having a handgun on his person.
Prosecution shared video footage from April 18, 25 and 30 of McCaden and his juvenile brother carrying out the T-Mobile robberies. In the April 30 video, McCaden is captured shooting Gonzalez at a T-Mobile in the 2500 block of Boston Street.
During impact statements, the victim’s mother described her son as a hardworking boy with a kind heart. “He did not have to die like that because he never hurt anyone,” she said. “That is why I ask you, with a broken heart, for justice for my son.”
Gonzalez’s father described his frustration and said, “This crime committed by Arthur McCaden left my family in deep pain. I cannot understand criminals who destroy families only for a few dollars.”
The 19-year-old’s defense attorney, Maura L. Lynch, said that McCaden may have been influenced by difficulties in his childhood, including homelessness, drug addiction, and periods in juvenile delinquency facilities. She claimed McCaden had seen “demons instructing him to do bad things” since as early as nine-years-old.
“I apologize. I’ve been doing drugs,” McCaden told Judge Taylor. “My life was hard growing up without a father figure. Drugs were taking over me, I can’t really explain.”
Lynch also informed Judge Taylor of McCaden’s extremely low IQ score of 64 and said McCaden has difficulties understanding consequences and abstract concepts.
Judge Taylor admitted the defendant never received the services he needed despite being arrested 45 times since he was 12-years -old. “Unfortunately, that is how the system works,” he said.
He sentenced McCaden to life in prison, suspending all but 50 years.
“Mr. McCaden didn’t fall in with the wrong crowd, he is the wrong crowd” said Judge Taylor. “No one is safe with Mr. McCaden being out, not even being locked up in jail with him.”
After sentencing, McCaden claimed he was confused during the hearing and believed the maximum penalty for his charge was 40 years. “I got drugs in my system now, I’m high,” he told the court.
“I hope it was worth it,” said another family member. “He took a piece of us we will never get back.”