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Dominique Harris, 31, of Philadelphia, received a mandatory life sentence without parole on Thursday, June 1, District Attorney Matthew Weintraub's Office announced in a statement.
He was convicted of first-degree murder and possessing an instrument of crime after two hours of jury deliberations in April, Daily Voice then reported.
At trial, jurors were told that Harris was employed at a Bensalem Wendy's until January 2022, when he was fired for fighting with co-worker Michael Pickens.
Two months later, in the early morning hours on March 30, authorities said Pickens was taking the trash at the end of his shift when Harris returned to ambush him.
Armed with a knife, Harris chased Pickens down the street to Bensalem Beer and Soda where he stabbed his former colleague 46 times, the DA's Office said. "More than half" of the wounds were "to his head and neck area, and some were so deep that they pierced his lung," said Chief Deputy District Attorney Kristin McElroy.
Harris initially fled, leaving a badly wounded Pickens to try and crawl to safety for eight minutes, prosecutors claimed.
“But Michael Pickens’ will to live could not overcome the defendant’s will to kill,” and Harris returned to run the victim over two times, McElroy said.
The attack, caught on surveillance video, ended with Harris putting Pickens in the back of his car and driving away, according to authorities. Pickens' body was later discovered near the Cornwells Heights Train Station Park and Ride with Harris' jacket draped over him, the DA's Office said.
“Dominique Harris was unrelenting," McElroy told jurors during closing arguments. "This was personal."
“We love you, Michael," said Pickens' stepfather in an impact statement during sentencing. "Not a day goes by that you are not on our minds. In us, you will live forever.”
Before handing down the life sentence, Common Pleas Judge Raymond F. McHugh told Harris his freedom would put community members at risk.
“What you did was ruthless, it was unnecessary, and it was criminal,” he said.
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