Opening Statements Begin in Cancel-Soto Murder Trial

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Opening statements were heard on Sept. 9 in the trial of 20-year-old Alexis Cancel-Soto, one of three men accused in the murder of 19-year-old Cameran Holt on Oct. 27, 2024. Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Nicole K. Barmore presided over the trial.

Cancel-Soto is facing charges of first-degree murder and assault, attempted second-degree murder, firearm use in a felony crime of violence, and reckless endangerment.

Prosecutors told jurors that Holt, her sister, and friends went to Federal Hill for a night out when a dispute broke out between Cancel-Soto, another man, and several others. Surveillance footage allegedly shows Cancel-Soto’s group pulling on face masks, brandishing firearms, including a Draco pistol, and opening fire.

Cancel-Soto later admitted to shooting five of the rounds exchanged, which exceeded 40. Cancel-Soto told prosecutors he was unsure who fired first.

Holt was in her vehicle close to a purple Dodge Challenger near the intersection of Biddle Street and a 7-Eleven when she was shot. Cancel-Soto reportedly intended to shoot at the Challenger, which belonged to a man he argued with earlier that night, but shot Holt in the process.

Holt remained hospitalized until Nov. 7, 2024, when she died from her injuries.

“This is pre-meditation,” the prosecution told jurors, arguing the shooting was an ambush on the Challenger and urging the jury to hold Cancel-Soto accountable.

Defense attorney Marci Johnson noted Cancel-Soto and his friends attended a candlelight vigil earlier that evening before going to Federal Hill where they later gathered in a parking lot owned by the father of a friend.

Johnson argued the confrontation began when one of Cancel-Soto’s friends accidentally hit the Challenger with his own car door, sparking an argument that escalated when the Challenger’s owner returned and opened fire on Cancel-Soto’s group.

Johnson said Cancel-Soto only fired back after being shot at, insisting the incident was unplanned and the defendant was simply defending himself and his friends.

“They were shot at,” Johnson told jurors. “They were attacked by a gentleman that attempted to join their party.”

Cancel-Soto is the first of three suspects to face trial. His co-defendants, 27-year-old Daeshaun Clark of Severna Park and 28-year-old Devontaye Richardson of Hanover are scheduled to appear in court in October.

The trial is expected to continue until Friday.