Vigil walkers demand justice for slain Fabián Sánchez–González

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Led by the mother, father and other family members of a 23-year-old Catholic who was shot and killed while working at a T-Mobile in Canton, nearly 80 people walked through the streets of East Baltimore May 7 in a peaceful call for change.

“We want justice!” the people shouted in English and Spanish. “No more violence in our streets!”

Fabián Alberto Sánchez-González, who had worshiped at Sacred Heart of Jesus/Sagrado Corazón de Jesús in Highlandtown and St. Clement I in Lansdowne over the course of his brief life, died May 1. His death occurred one day after he was shot in a robbery attempt at T-Mobile in Canton, where he worked. 

According to a Baltimore City Police news release, two suspects were arrested May 4 at the 5200 block St. Charles Avenue: 18-year-old Arthur McCaden and his 14-year-old brother.

The walking vigil in Fabián’s memory began at Sacred Heart of Jesus and proceeded to the T-Mobile store.

“No family should wish their child to have a good day at work and on the same day receive a call that they were shot 30 minutes before their shift ended,” Carlos Sanchez-Gonzalez said to the crowd, reading a statement from the Sánchez-González family, whose members have also worshiped at both Sacred Heart and St. Clement I. 

Fabián Sanchez’s youngest brother said his hardworking brother’s dream was to buy a house for their mother, where all his family could live together. 

Those who walked and spoke at the vigil walk included Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott, Baltimore City Council member Zeke Cohen, Redemptorist Father Alipio Flores and several leaders from different church denominations. 

“There is no pain like seeing a life full of potential cut short,” the mayor said, “but today all we have to do is pour love into this family.”

Before the vigil walk started, Scott introduced himself to all the family members, gave his condolences and affirmed that he would be there for the family, even after “the trial is over and the cameras are gone.”

“Today it was me. They destroyed my family and (killed) a good young man who had dreams and would only work,” Alma Rosa Gonzalez, Fabian Sanchez’s mother, said to the mayor. 

She also expressed her desire to be present at the court trial with her family. “We want this to stop,” she added.

“We are halfway there,” Scott responded, explaining that two suspects remain in custody, and the state attorneys are proceeding with the case. 

“We need a lot more gun control,” the mayor told the Review. “We need to make sure that folks who have guns are mentally prepared, have the age and maturity enough to handle it.

“Teenagers should not be able to go online, order parts of a gun and then put it together and use it,” he added.

While she walked at the vigil and prayed outside the T-Mobile store, Fabián’s mother wore a long black veil and carried a sign that said, in Spanish: “They took away my son Fabián.” 

Julio Contreras, Fabián’s older brother, told the Review that Fabián arrived at St. Ignatius Loyola Academy (class of 2014) in Federal Hill, after encountering “a tough time with other kids” with bullying at his previous school. 

Former school counselor at St. Ignatius Loyola Academy, James Fiore, who was Sánchez-González’s counselor and coached him at wrestling during middle school, said Fabián Sánchez-González was “easy-going, sweet, gentle like a teddy bear and with a good sense of humor.” 

He said he helped Sánchez-González to get into Cristo Rey High School in Fells Point and mentored him during high school. 

“It’s so sad that so many families have been affected,” Fiore said. “You have an 18-year-old and a 14-year-old who will probably be serving life sentences and a family who has lost their second-oldest child.” 

Eliseo Ortega, a parishioner of St. Clement I, whom Fabián Sánchez-González would refer to as “uncle,” said he feels “very hurt because he was so close to us.” His son, Richard Ortega, was Fabián Sánchez-González’s childhood friend and attended Cristo Rey High School with him. 

“It is very difficult as a parent because you don’t expect this,” Ortega said. “You think it is not going to happen and it happens to you. Unfortunately, authorities can’t keep up with crime and this is the price that one has to pay.”

He said the biggest challenge as an immigrant is that the current immigration situation makes him and other immigrants “hide.”

“We cannot express all we feel due to fear of laws,” he said. “There are a lot of people living in the shadows with no voice or vote.” 

Rudicela Merino, a parishioner of Our Lady of Pompeii in Highlandtown, said that despite not knowing Fabian Sánchez-González or his family, she attended because “nobody deserves to die this way.” 

“You leave your house and don’t know if you can come back home because of the violence we face in this city,” she said.  

Carlos Crespo, a parishioner of St. Clare in Essex, said something has to be done about gun control laws. 

“Not only Hispanic families are suffering, but Caucasians and African Americans,” he said. “Today it was them; tomorrow it can be you or me.”

Father Flores, who serves as associate pastor at Sacred Heart, said, “We are united in this tragic cause asking for justice and peace for this town.” 

“Regardless of where we are coming from, let us not think of violence anymore, but peace in our country and in our Baltimore City,” he said before praying with the people. 

Humberto Sanchez, Fabián Sánchez-González’s father, said “God’s grace” is slowly getting his family through a very difficult situation. 

“If it (his son’s tragic death) was his will, then we’ve got nothing left but to accept his will,” he said to the Catholic Review in Spanish. 

“God knows what he is doing; he never makes a mistake,” he added.

According to Lucia Islas, who has worked closely assisting the family, the Sánchez-González family wants to start a scholarship to honor Fabian’s memory, which could assist students from St. Ignatius and Cristo Rey, among other schools. 

A viewing will take place at Sacred Heart of Jesus May 13 at 10 a.m., followed by the funeral Mass at noon.  

“This violence needs to stop, and we want justice for my brother,” Carlos Sánchez-González said. “May he now rest in peace.” 

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