Jurors find man guilty of second-degree murder in 2021 death of U-Haul employee
A jury on Monday convicted a Garfield man of second-degree murder for the 2021 killing of an employee at a Washington Boulevard U-Haul store, according to court records.
Braijon Burton, 24, will be sentenced May 6, court records show. Second-degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of life without the possibility of parole.
Burton was charged July 27, 2021, after he gunned down 21-year-old Jacob Jaillet outside the U-Haul rental store where he worked. Jaillet was shot in the neck and died several days later.
Jaillet’s father, Jeff Jaillet, told Post- Gazette news partner KDKA-TV the verdict was a relief.
“It’s been a long road, and it’s justice for Jake,” he told the TV station.
Jurors received case Friday and signaled about 3 p.m. Monday they’d arrived at a verdict.
Investigators said at the time that Burton had been in and out of the store several times throughout the day leading up to the shooting. Jaillet ultimately walked outside with Burton to show him one of the trucks, at which point Burton fired twice and took off with the truck.
He was arrested a short time later after he led police on a brief chase on Route 28. He was initially charged with attempted homicide, but the charge was upgraded when Jaillet died four days later.
During testimony last week, Dr. Jonathan Elmer testified to the extent of Jaillet’s graphic injuries, calling them “life-ending,” according to KDKA. He said when Jaillet arrived at UPMC Presbyterian, doctors discovered the shot to his neck had severed his spinal cord.
Dr. Elmer said he told Jaillet and his family there were two options: Remain on a breathing tube and die slowly or remove the breathing tube, take medication and die peacefully. He said the young man and his family opted for the latter.
Jurors also heard the 911 call made by Jaillet’s friend and coworker, the TV station reported.
Jurors deliberated on around a dozen charges, including first- degree murder versus second-degree murder. They ultimately convicted Burton of the latter, which is a murder carried out during the commission of another felony.
“We were nervous but, in the end, justice was served,” Jeff Jaillet told KDKA.
Burton was also found guilty of vehicle robbery, aggravated assault, fleeing police, reckless endangerment and firearms violations.