Judge Sentences Defendant To 16 Years for Killing ‘Pillar of the Community’

By D.C. Witness Staff - April 22, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

A judge sentenced April 19 a defendant to 16 years in prison for killing a man who prosecutors say was a “pillar of the community.”

In August of 2018, Bikila Kejella pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed for shooting 23-year-old Eric Garrett on the 2300 block of 11th Street, NW in 2016. According to court documents, Garnett was transferred to a hospital where he succumed to his injuries six days later.

“I sit in disbelief that he isn’t here to talk to,” Garrett’s mother told Judge Juliet McKenna. “I struggle to hold myself together because he’s not here.”

Prior to delivering her sentence, Judge McKenna heard from many of Garnett’s loved ones who described the victim as a person who worked tirelessly to brighten the lives of people in his neighborhood.

Garnett’s aunt said he overcame early trauma, after being shot in the leg at a young age, which forced him to give up a basketball scholarship. But, Garnett continued to work to improve his community by joining the Boys and Girls Club and serving as a mentor to younger children.

“The children still cry for him,” a friend, who volunteered with Garnett at a local recreation center, said. “The hood lost too much that day.”  

A prosecutor said Garnett’s family and community were “robbed” of a caring and talented individual.

“Eric was a remarkable man that took bad experiences and made them positive,” the prosecutor said.

Defense attorney, Jacqueline Cadman, said Kejella, 20, is an immigrant from Ethiopia. Cadman said the defendant had been attacked multiple times in his neighborhood. Kejella was robbed several hours before the murder and shot Garnett because he looked like one of the robbers, the attorney said.

Cadman said Kejella is “devastated” over his actions and has been working to better himself while he’s been held in DC Jail. After completing his General Education Development exam (GED), Kejella was admitted to the The Georgetown Prison Scholars Program, a partnership between Georgetown University’s Prisons and Justice Initiative and the DC Department of Corrections. During his time at DC Jail, Kejella has been taking English and Government classes for college credit.

A representative from the program said Kejella is a driving force in class discussions and topped the class with a recent paper on politics. 

Kejella also participated in a mentorship program and said he, like Garnett, hopes to work with children to prevent them from going down the wrong path.

“I know my actions will never be forgettable,” said Kejella while addressing Garnett’s family. “But, I hope you can find it in your heart to make them forgivable.”

Judge McKenna said she will let Kejella complete his current educational program in DC Jail before transferring him to prison to serve out his sentence. 

Kejella is also expected to serve five years on supervised release after his term. Once released, he would have to register as a gun offender.