East Baltimore aches after violent death of Fabián Sánchez–González

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Family and friends of Fabián Alberto Sánchez–González are saddened, shocked and outraged after the 23-year-old parishioner of Sacred Heart of Jesus-Sagrado Corazón de Jesús in Highlandtown died May 1, one day after being shot during a robbery attempt while he was working at T-Mobile in Canton.

“My son dedicated himself to work hard,” said Alma Rosa González, his mother. “He didn’t do harm to anyone. My son was always looking after me and after his family. Our family was very close.”

González, speaking in Spanish, said her son attended Mass with her from a young age at St. Patrick in Fells Point. As an adult, he attended Mass at St. Clement I in Lansdowne on his days off. She said he was devoted to his Catholic school community at St. Ignatius Loyola Academy in Federal Hill (where he was a 2014 graduate) and Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Fells Point (where he attended from 2014 to 2016).

Sánchez–González was the second of four brothers and a first-generation Mexican-American. His family are members of Sacred Heart of Jesus-Sagrado Corazón de Jesús.

“Not long ago, my brother finished a double shift and I made a simple meal for him,” Carlos Sanchez, one of his younger brothers, told the Catholic Review. “He would take a bite and then dance to show he enjoyed the food. He had to show that he was happy.”

In a statement posted on a gofundme page to support the family, Carlos Sanchez added that his brother was “full of life and he always smiled and joked around with us and kept us filled with joy. He had a big heart, a heart of gold.”

In a statement, St. Ignatius Loyola Academy wrote, “Faculty remember Fabián as a quiet, thoughtful and hard-working student who was a pleasure to teach.”

Sánchez–González remained active at the all-boys Jesuit school as part of its Graduate Support Program, through which he constantly visited the school and assisted students.

Chief Advancement Officer Jennifer Summers said the academy was contacted by the family soon after the incident happened.
“For many of our students, St. Ignatius is their second home,” she said.

The academy noted that support and prayers are being offered for the family and fellow alumni as they confront the tragic loss.

“We ask everyone to remember every victim of senseless violence is a fellow human with a name, a family and a life that should be honored and cherished,” the school posted on its Facebook page.

Riccy Amador, who attended Cristo Rey with Sánchez–González, called her friend “one of the sweetest people you can meet.”

“He was a family person and a very hardworking person,” she noted. “He wanted to offer a better life to his parents (immigrants from Mexico), particularly his mother.”

Amador remembered her friend trying to excel at school and work so he could achieve his goal to provide a better life for his family.

“It was really hard to hear, especially when it is about someone you grew up with,” she said. “I’m still in shock.” 

Cristo Rey Jesuit High School President Dr. Willian “Bill” Heiser said his school community mourns the “tragic and senseless murder of our former student.”

“We will forever remember Fabián in our hearts and continue to keep him, his family and his friends in our prayers,” he said.

Counselors from the Jesuit high school have been readily available to support alumni and the community, he added. Cristo Rey donated $1,000 through gofundme to assist the family with funeral expenses. As of May 5, nearly $28,000 has been contributed in total from nearly 500 donors.

Cecilia Castelan, a family friend whom Sánchez–González referred to as “aunt” and a fellow parishioner of Sacred Heart, said having Sanchez and his siblings attend school was always a priority for their father, “so they could move forward in life.”

She recalled Sánchez–González as a “loving and tender child,” who always wanted to be near his family.

“Just like his siblings, Fabián didn’t have any vices or didn’t want to be out late partying,” she added. “He was hardworking.”

As the Catholic community grieves the sudden and violent death, many are demanding better control of guns.

“I’ve never been a partisan of guns,” Castelan said. “I think their use should be restricted to authorities and even they should go through extensive training to have access.”

According to the Baltimore Police Department, two teens have been arrested and charged with first-degree murder, including 18-year-old Arthur McCaden and a 14-year-old male, whose name remains unknown because of his age.

“I give thanks to God and to the authorities who caught the responsible ones,” the victim’s mother told the Review. “I hope for justice for my son and all the victims of violence.”

Redemptorist Father Alipio Flores, associate pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus-Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, will offer the May 13 funeral Mass at Sacred Heart.

“It is very sad for this Latin family that their 23-year-old son had to die in such a violent way,” he said. 

Several parishioners from Sacred Heart of Jesus are assisting the family in planning the funeral. The Sánchez–González family will hold a vigil walk in his honor May 7 at 3 p.m. at Sacred Heart on Conkling Street and will proceed up to the store where the killing took place.

“I want justice for my son,” González said. “I want to put a stop to crime that is breaking families. People have to understand that destroying innocent lives is not a solution.”

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