Teenage UPS worker, 19, is charged with murder of driver, 28, 'after suddenly attacking him' as they made holiday deliveries in Connecticut
A 19-year-old UPS worker has been arrested and charged with murder after an alleged deadly assault on a colleague, Connecticut state police said.
Elijah David Bertrand had been the target of a police search since Tuesday night when a fellow UPS worker, Nathan Burk, 28, was found suffering from injuries.
Burk was reportedly driving the UPS truck with Bertrand in the passenger seat as they made holiday deliveries in Waterfield, Litchfield County, police said.
Bertrand suddenly attacked Burk while he was driving which caused him to crash the truck, they said. The victim later died of his injuries at hospital.
Suspect: Elijah David Bertrand, 19, has been arrested and charged with murder after an alleged deadly assault on a co-worker, Connecticut state police said.
A weapon was recovered at the scene, Connecticut State Police Trooper Joseu Dorelus said at a news conference. The motive is unknown.
'We do know that there was a weapon used during the course of the attack and we are very confident that the weapon that was located on scene, may be the weapon used to do this crime,' Dorelus said, reports ABC 7 New York.
State police officers initially responded to a call about an accident involving a UPS truck in Watertown around 10.30pm on Tuesday.
They found Burk, who lived in the town, had been assaulted and medics rushed him to hospital where he later died.
His co-worker had run away from the scene but was later located at Valero Gas Station in Plymouth and taken into state police custody on Wednesday, Plymouth Police department said in a statement. It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney.
Victim: Nathan Burk, 28, was found suffering from injuries on Tuesday after being allegedly assaulted by his co-worker
Police said he was cooperative and charged with murder with bail set at $2 million.
Connecticut State Police did not give information about the nature of Burk's injuries. An autopsy was to determine the cause and manner of death.
Since his death, tributes for Burk have been pouring in.
'He was a very simple and sincere kid, he loves nature, he rode dirt bikes and everything and he used to come over to the house and just hang out,' said Despina Tsetsos, one of Burk's friends.
'There are no words. A parent should never bury their child especially now, two days before Christmas.'
'Last night, Teamster Local 677 member Nathan Daniel Burk, 28, was murdered on the job,' said Sean O’Brien, secretary treasurer of Teamsters Joint Council 10, a labor union that represents drivers across New England.
'A Waterbury, Connecticut resident, Burk was a five-year Teamster,' he added in the statement posted on Facebook.
He asked other members of the union to gather at the Watertown UPS facility on Wednesday night to honor Burk.
'It’s still just unbelievable that it actually happened. Especially to somebody that was just working, Marshall Mullen, a friend of the victim, told WTNH TV station.
'He was just working delivering Christmas gifts to everybody and the worst thing happened to him.'
'Sometimes when you work in a tough job you see signs of mental illness you see signs of fatigue, or anything else, there were no signs with his helper,' added Sean O'Brian.
'We are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague, and are cooperating with the investigation,' UPS spokesperson Matthew O'Connor said.
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