Baltimore man sentenced to 30 years for killing bystander Cameran Holt in Federal Hill shootout
A 19-year-old bystander killed in crossfire
A Baltimore man convicted in the shooting death of 19-year-old Cameran Holt has been sentenced to 30 years in prison, capping the first completed murder case stemming from a 2024 gunfight in the Federal Hill neighborhood.
Holt was struck during a shootout on Oct. 27, 2024, on West Hamburg Street. She had been nearby for a family gathering and was not involved in the dispute that led to the gunfire. Holt was taken to a hospital and died about two weeks later, authorities said in court filings and public statements released during the prosecution.
Conviction and sentence for Alexis Cancel-Soto
Alexis Cancel-Soto was convicted in September 2025 of first-degree murder and related firearm charges in Holt’s death. Prosecutors presented surveillance video and witness accounts to argue that Cancel-Soto fired during an exchange of gunfire that left Holt mortally wounded.
During trial testimony reported from the proceedings, Cancel-Soto acknowledged he was present and fired a handgun but disputed whether any bullet he fired struck Holt’s vehicle. The jury nevertheless returned guilty verdicts on all counts tied to the homicide case presented against him.
The 30-year sentence was imposed following the conviction, establishing the first prison term directly tied to Holt’s death among the three men originally charged.
How the shooting unfolded, as alleged in court
Evidence and argument introduced at trial centered on a confrontation that escalated into gunfire between groups in the area. Prosecutors said an argument involving Devontaye Richardson and another man led to Cancel-Soto and a third defendant, Daeshaun Clark, shooting at a vehicle as it drove away, triggering a broader exchange of shots. Another man was injured in the incident, authorities said.
Date and location: Oct. 27, 2024, West Hamburg Street, Federal Hill.
Victim: Cameran Holt, 19, described as a bystander not connected to the dispute.
Key evidence at trial: surveillance video and witness testimony.
Status of the other defendants
Two other men were charged in the case. Richardson was later acquitted of murder and attempted murder and convicted of reckless endangerment in connection with the shootout. Clark’s case remained pending after pretrial proceedings were scheduled in late 2025.
Related witness-intimidation case
Separately, a witness-intimidation prosecution emerged during the litigation. Kendal Holt, identified in court records as the victim’s sister, pleaded guilty to felony witness intimidation after a witness reported receiving a threatening text message following testimony in the Cancel-Soto trial. The court imposed a 15-year sentence with all but time served suspended, along with probation and conditions restricting contact and interference with the remaining prosecutions.
The Holt homicide case has proceeded on separate tracks for each defendant, with differing outcomes reflecting the evidence and charges presented in each trial.