BRADENTON, Fla. — Myshaela Burnham, 29, and Keith Roberts Jr., 29, are at the center of a tragic and heartbreaking incident that unfolded Thursday afternoon at a medical and office complex in the 5200 block of 4th Avenue Circle East, an event that has left one young woman gone, another fighting to recover, and a community reeling in grief.
According to the Bradenton Police Department, Keith Roberts Jr. was arrested and charged with first-degree murder with a firearm and attempted first-degree murder with a firearm following the shooting. Detectives say Roberts entered a suite of offices within the complex and fatally shot his ex-girlfriend, Myshaela Burnham, inside the workplace. An office employee who witnessed the violence was also shot. She was transported to the hospital, where she remains hospitalized. Her name has not been released.
Authorities responded to reports of shots fired at approximately 12:48 p.m. Upon arrival, officers located two victims — one with fatal injuries and another critically injured. The scene was secured as investigators began collecting evidence, and the Manatee Homicide Investigation Unit and Crime Scene Investigators were called in to assist.
Witnesses and 911 callers reported seeing a vehicle leaving the area shortly after the shooting. Bradenton Police quickly tracked the vehicle traveling toward the DeSoto Bridge. With assistance from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and the Palmetto Police Department, the vehicle was stopped in Palmetto at approximately 1:12 p.m. The driver, identified as Keith Roberts Jr., was taken into custody within 25 minutes of the incident. He later agreed to an interview with homicide investigators and was formally arrested shortly before 6 p.m.
Police later confirmed the office where the incident occurred is a laboratory processing facility. Investigators continued to process the scene for hours, carefully examining the office suite and surrounding areas as they worked to understand the full sequence of events that led to this devastating act.
At the heart of this tragedy is Myshaela Burnham, a 29-year-old woman whose life was taken far too soon. She is remembered not for the violence that claimed her, but for the life she lived, the relationships she cherished, and the future that was stolen from her. Her loss has left family, friends, coworkers, and loved ones devastated, struggling to comprehend how quickly everything changed.
The second victim, an employee who witnessed the incident, remains hospitalized. She, too, is a victim of this violence, and many continue to hold her in their thoughts and prayers as she recovers from both physical injuries and emotional trauma.
The Bradenton Police Department has stated that the investigation remains ongoing, and additional information will be released as it becomes available. Authorities continue working to ensure accountability and to support those impacted by this tragedy.
As the community mourns, this incident serves as a sobering reminder of the lasting consequences of violence and the profound ripple effects it leaves behind. Vigils, prayers, and messages of condolence reflect a shared grief — and a collective determination to honor Myshaela’s life with remembrance, compassion, and care for one another.
Our deepest condolences go out to the family, friends, and loved ones of Myshaela Burnham, as well as to the injured survivor and all those affected by this heartbreaking event. May Myshaela’s memory live on through love, and may healing and strength surround everyone touched by this loss.