Eddy Gets 25 Years for Brutal DC Teen Slaying

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A cold-blooded killer will spend a quarter of his life behind bars after being sentenced today for the senseless murder of a 16-year-old boy. Bernard Eddy, 24, of the District of Columbia, received 25 years in prison for the 2019 shooting death of Steffen Brathwaite, a crime that shocked the city’s 7th District.

The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Michael Ryan after a Superior Court jury found Eddy guilty on April 22, 2025, of second-degree murder while armed and related weapons offenses. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro’s office had pushed for a heftier 31-year sentence, arguing the brutality of the crime warranted maximum punishment. While the judge didn’t meet that request, the 25-year term ensures Eddy remains off the streets for a significant period.

The grim details revealed during the trial painted a picture of a calculated and callous act. According to prosecutors, shortly after midnight on September 10, 2019, Eddy stalked Steffen Brathwaite as the teen walked alone on the 3000 block of 24th Place, SE. Eddy, armed with a 9 mm handgun, unleashed a volley of gunfire, leaving Steffen to fall to the pavement. Eddy then callously fled the scene on foot, leaving the teen to die.

What sealed Eddy’s fate wasn’t just eyewitness testimony and ballistics, but a damning piece of digital evidence. Investigators recovered Eddy’s cell phone eight days after the slaying. A chilling 15-second video found on the device depicted Eddy celebrating Steffen’s murder, a blatant display of depravity that spoke volumes about his character. The video, recorded approximately three hours after the shooting, left no doubt in the jury’s mind about Eddy’s guilt.

Eddy remained a fugitive for over three years before finally being arrested on January 6, 2023. He’s been held without bail ever since, awaiting the outcome of the trial. The Metropolitan Police Department’s relentless investigation was crucial in bringing Eddy to justice. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Liebman and Mark Levy skillfully prosecuted the case, presenting a compelling argument that resonated with the jury.

While 25 years won’t bring Steffen Brathwaite back, it delivers a measure of justice for his family and sends a clear message: gun violence and senseless acts of brutality will not be tolerated in the nation’s capital. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the ongoing struggle against violent crime in Washington, D.C.

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