A Target Worker Stole His Colleague's Lunch. So the Coworker Trained for Murder Before Fatally Stabbing Him in the Parking Lot.

A man in Virginia was sentenced to 100 years in prison for the 2021 murder of his Target co-worker, who he claimed had stolen his lunch.

On April 14, 2021, 58-year-old Hernan Leiva, a janitor at the store in Falls Church, took the lunch of 25-year-old Bazn Berhe from the office fridge, according to the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.

Berhe later told investigators that in retaliation he began plotting the colleague's murder. On April 15, 2021, Berhe purchased a hammer and two knives while leaving his shift at Target.

The following day, Berhe said he spent the day “training for the murder,” according to officials.

On April 17, 2021, he put his plan into action. Berhe arrived early at the employee parking lot and waited for Leiva.

When Leiva arrived, Berhe attacked him, stabbing and bludgeoning him to death before fleeing the scene. Police apprehended Berhe, who immediately confessed to the crime.

He pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in October 2023.

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Berhe was convicted and sentenced to 100 years behind bars for Leiva's death. The sentence included 30 years suspended, meaning Berhe will serve 70 years of active incarceration.

During his sentencing hearing, prosecutors said Berhe threatened to kill or hurt other people if he was not given the harshest possible sentence.

In a statement, Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano said, "In this case, because of the unique and self-proclaimed danger the defendant continues to pose to the community, today’s sentence was a necessary outcome for maintaining public safety."