25‑year-old sentenced to 100 years for meticulously planned murder over a lunch dispute in Alexandria
A tragedy unfolded in Alexandria, not far from the White House. Bazn Berhe was accused of murdering his older work colleague, Hernan Leiva. The men disagreed just days before Leiva, 58, was killed.
Feb 2, 2024 | updated: 4:28 AM EST, March 7, 2024
The disagreement was over lunch. On April 14, 2021, Berhe was unable to find his food in the refrigerator at work and blamed the janitor, Hernan Leiva. The older man denied being involved.
In the following days, the 25-year-old meticulously planned the crime. On April 15, he bought a hammer and two knives. The entire next day, as he expressed himself, was spent "training for the murder".
On April 17, 2021, Berhe lay in wait for his victim in the parking lot outside the store where both men worked. Upon seeing Hernan Leiva, 58, Berhe initially attacked him with a hammer before stabbing him with a knife. After the assault, he fled the crime scene.
The man confessed to his crime. He described to the police and prosecution in detail the sequence of his crime, from planning to execution.
During interrogation, Berhe warned that he "will kill or harm other people if he does not receive the most severe possible sentence" - said Prosecutor Steve Descano from Fairfax County.
Berhe is now set to spend the rest of his life in prison. Heeding the defendant's request, the court sentenced him to 100 years in prison. The accused will be eligible to apply for early release after 70 years have been served.
