Montana Casino Robber with Molotov Cocktail Was Copying His Dad, Says Ex

Posted on: May 1, 2019, 06:35h. 

Last updated on: May 1, 2019, 09:33h.

Philip Conneller @casinoorgphilc Read More

Expertise: Gaming Business, Regulation, Tribal Gaming.

A man who tried to rob the Magic Diamond Casino in Bozeman, Montana, while high on meth and armed with a Molotov cocktail, was following in his father’s footsteps, according to his ex-wife.

On Saturday morning, Jacob Burritt, 27, walked into the casino wearing a mask and brandishing a flaming object, which was later determined by bomb-squad officers to be a cologne bottle with a gasoline-soaked wick. He screamed “Give me the money,” at terrified casino staff, who fled.

Employees later returned to find that Burritt had apparently thrown his improvised explosive device at the front desk, causing $1,500 worth of fire damage. The safe had been moved but not opened.

Police surrounded Burritt several hours later near his vehicle and were able to talk him into surrendering. A quantity of methamphetamine was later found in his car.

Officers established that prior to the attempted robbery, Burritt had visited a local Petco store, telling employees to call 911 regarding a shooting in a nearby mall, apparently in a bid to create a diversion.

 Like Father, Like Son

According to court documents, Burritt’s ex-wife told police he had, “wanted to rob a casino in a similar fashion as his father had robbed a casino – by creating a diversion nearby the casino and then committing the robbery.”

According to newspaper reports at the time, Burritt put a knife to her throat and ordered her to drive, but she was able to open the driver’s side door and yell for help, and he fled.

He was later arrested and charged with carjacking, kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon, and armed robbery.

Facing 80 Years

Michael Burritt was described in news reports as hailing from Lompoc, California, which Jacob Burritt lists as his place of birth on social media platforms.

Records show a Michael Howard Burritt and Jacob Burritt once lived at the same address in Lompoc, along with several family members who are listed among Jacob’s Facebook friends.

It is unclear whether the Chumash incident was the one Jacob was attempting to emulate on Saturday. News reports at the time mention no attempt to rob the casino, although they mention that Michael Burritt was wanted for other unspecified crimes and that his wife, Diane Burritt, was also arrested inside the casino on an outstanding warrant.

Jacob Burritt reportedly called his ex-wife during his police interview to tell her he had “lost everything” and asked her to tell their daughter he loved her. He faces charges of robbery, arson, possession of dangerous drugs, and possession of explosives and could be sentenced to 80 years if convicted of all of them.