In a case that has captivated public attention for the tragic consequences of what began as a workplace dispute, Bazen Berhe, a 25-year-old former employee of Target in Bailey’s Crossroads, Virginia, was sentenced on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, to 100 years in prison, with 30 years suspended, for the premeditated murder of his co-worker, 58-year-old janitor Hernan Leiva.
The incident, which happened in April 2021, stemmed from Berhe’s belief that Leiva had stolen his lunch from the office refrigerator.
Over several days, Berhe meticulously planned his revenge, purchasing a hammer and two knives from the store where both men worked. According to statements made to the police, Berhe spent a day “training for murder” before executing his plan.
On the morning of April 17, Berhe waited in the Target employee parking lot for Leiva to arrive for work. Upon Leiva’s arrival, Berhe attacked his co-worker, stabbing and bludgeoning him to death before fleeing the scene. He later returned to surrender to the authorities, immediately confessing to the crime.
During his sentencing in October 2023, Berhe issued a chilling threat, stating he would kill or hurt others unless given the harshest possible punishment.
This statement was a factor in the sentencing decision, according to Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano, who emphasized the necessity of the sentence to maintain public safety given Berhe’s continued perceived threat to the community.
Leiva, a native of El Salvador residing in Falls Church, Virginia, with his partner, Esperanza, and two sons, was remembered by his family as an extraordinarily hard worker and a beloved figure known for his sense of humor.
His son, Jesse Leiva, in a description on a GoFundMe campaign, praised him as an “exemplary figure and beacon of light.”
Berhe’s admission and the evidence presented at trial painted a picture of a premeditated attack, culminating in a tragic loss of life over what began as a seemingly minor conflict. He will spend the majority of his life in prison over a situation that could have been resolved peacefully.
