Bernard Eddy, a 24-year-old resident of the District of Columbia, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the fatal shooting of 16-year-old Steffen Brathwaite. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro and delivered by Judge Michael Ryan.
Eddy was found guilty on April 22, 2025, by a Superior Court jury for second-degree murder while armed and related weapons offenses. The prosecution had sought a sentence of 31 years.
The incident occurred shortly after midnight on September 10, 2019. According to evidence presented by the government, Eddy approached Steffen on the 3000 block of 24th Place, SE, as Steffen walked alone through the neighborhood. Armed with a 9 mm handgun, Eddy fired multiple shots at Steffen before fleeing on foot.
A crucial piece of evidence was a video found on Eddy’s cell phone eight days after the incident. The recording showed Eddy celebrating Steffen's murder about three hours after it took place.
Eddy was arrested on January 6, 2023, and has remained in custody without bail since his arrest.
The Metropolitan Police Department conducted the investigation into this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Liebman and Mark Levy led the prosecution.
