Killer of 16-Year-Old Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison

            WASHINGTON – Bernard Eddy, 24, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today by the Honorable Michael Ryan to 25 years in prison for the 2019 fatal shooting of 16-year-old Steffen Brathwaite, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

            A Superior Court jury found Eddy guilty on April 22, 2025, of second-degree murder while armed and related weapons offenses. The government had requested a sentence of 31 years.

            According to the government’s evidence, shortly after midnight on Sept.10, 2019, Eddy approached Steffen on the 3000 block of 24th Place, SE, as Steffen was walking alone through the neighborhood. Eddy, who was armed with a 9 mm handgun, fired multiple gunshots at Steffen. Steffen fell to the ground and Eddy fled on foot. 

            The evidence against Eddy included a 15-second video found on Eddy’s cell phone, which was recovered eight days after the slaying. In the recording, which was made about three hours after the shooting, Eddy is shown celebrating Steffen’s murder.

            Eddy was arrested on Jan. 6, 2023, and has been held without bail since then.

            This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Liebman and Mark Levy.