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Bazen Berhe, 25, may spend the rest of his life behind bars after being sentenced to 100 years in prison - with 30 years suspended - for the 2021 murder of Hernan Leiva, 58, in the parking lot of the business they both worked.
Descano made note that at his sentencing hearing, Berhe was demonstrative, "threatening to kill or hurt other people if he was not given the harshest possible sentence."
The Alexandria native claimed that the incident came about when Leiva, who was a janitor at the Target location, took Berhe's lunch from the office refrigerator on April 14, 2021.
Then Berhe went to work, elaborately plotting out what was to come next.
The following day, on April 15, Berhe told detectives that he purchased a hammer and two knives while leaving his shift at Target, and on April 16, began "training for the murder," which would happen the next day.
On April 17, 2021, Berhe laid in wait for Leiva to arrive at the Target parking lot, and when he came into work, Berhe stabbed and bludgeoned him to death before fleeing.
Once apprehended, Berhe confessed to the crime immediately and pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in October.
"Mr. Leiva's unnecessary and tragic death leaves behind a grieving family and community, one that will never be the same after such a senseless act of violence," Descano said.
"In this case, because of the unique and self-proclaimed danger (Berhe) continues to pose to the community, today's sentence was a necessary outcome for maintaining public safety."
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