Former Target employee, Bazen Berhe, 25, from Bailey’s Crossroads, Virginia, has been sentenced to 100 years imprisonment, with 30 years suspended, for the premeditated murder of his co-worker, 58-year-old janitor Hernan Leiva. The sentence was delivered on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, for a crime that originated from a workplace disagreement.
The altercation that led to the murder occurred in April 2021 when Berhe suspected Leiva of stealing his lunch from the office refrigerator.
Ahead of the homicide, Berhe spent several days planning the act, even buying a hammer and two knives from the Target store where both he and Leiva worked. Police records indicate that Berhe spent a day “training for murder” prior to the fatal incident.
On April 17, Berhe waited in the Target employee parking lot for Leiva to show up for work. Upon Leiva’s arrival, Berhe assaulted him, stabbing and beating him to death before fleeing the scene. He later surrendered himself to the authorities, confessing to the crime immediately.
During his sentencing in October 2023, Berhe warned menacingly that he would harm or kill others unless he received the maximum possible sentence.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano took this statement into consideration during the sentencing process, underlining the necessity of a severe sentence to ensure public safety due to Berhe’s continued perceived danger to the community.
Leiva, originally from El Salvador and living in Falls Church, Virginia, with his partner, Esperanza, and two sons, was remembered by his family as a hardworking individual and a cherished presence known for his humor.
Jesse Leiva, his son, described him in a GoFundMe campaign as an “exemplary figure and beacon of light.”
In light of Berhe’s confession and the evidence presented at the trial, it is clear that a premeditated attack took place, tragically ending a life over a disagreement that started as a minor conflict. The result is that Berhe faces a long prison term for a situation that could have been handled without violence.
