Pittsburgh man charged with murder after shooting U-Haul rental employee, cops say

A Pittsburgh man has been charged with murder after he attempted to carjack a vehicle from a U-Haul store, and shot an employee in the head, police stated.

Barijon Burton, 21, is charged with homicide, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, fleeing police, firearms violations and reckless driving, the Pittsburgh Tribune reported.

Jacob Jaillet, 21, died in the hospital on Aug. 1, five days after he was shot, according to the Tribune.

According to the charges, Burton arrived at the U-Haul rental center shortly before 5 p.m. on July 27, the Tribune reported.

Police say Burton had been in and out of the rental center several times asking about pricing and features, according to the Tribune.

On his final trip inside, Burton asked to look inside one of the trucks, according to the criminal complaint obtained by the Tribune. Jaillet offered to get the keys and show him the truck.

Once outside, Burton said to himself, “I’m taking this truck,” and he shot Jaillet in the head, according to the Tribune.

Burton took the keys and the truck and drove off. Police pursued him, and he allegedly shot at another vehicle before taking a highway exit, according to the complaint obtained by the Tribune.

Burton rammed a Pittsburgh police vehicle parked on the exit ramp, hitting the left side of the officer who was standing outside of it, according to the Tribune.

Police were able to stop Burton and detain him. The Tribune reported that detectives said Burton told them, “I don’t know why I did it. I got the gun from my grandfather. Is the officer OK?”

“Jake was a special young man with a bright future,” Elizabeth Hertzler, president of U-Haul Pittsburgh, said in a statement obtained by the Tribune. “He was genuinely loved by his U-Haul family. It may sound cliché, but he truly lit up a room. Everyone was always happy to be around Jake and so excited when they could work with him.”