A targeted act of domestic violence turned deadly on Thursday afternoon, January 15, 2026, at a medical lab processing facility in Bradenton’s commercial district along the 5200 block of 4th Avenue Circle East.
Keith Roberts Jr., 29, a security guard at nearby Manatee Memorial Hospital, entered the unlocked suite armed with a shotgun and handgun shortly after 12:45 p.m., proceeding directly to the desk of his recent ex-girlfriend, 29-year-old Myshaela Burnham.
The midday intrusion shattered the routine workday environment, transforming a professional space dedicated to medical services into a scene of sudden terror as multiple shots rang out, prompting frantic 911 calls from nearby offices and witnesses who heard the gunfire amid surrounding dental and health facilities.
Roberts approached Burnham at point-blank range while she worked at her desk, opening fire with the shotgun in a deliberate and premeditated manner that authorities later described as cruel and evil. The initial blasts struck Burnham fatally, inflicting devastating wounds that proved immediately life-ending despite the proximity of medical professionals in the complex.
Some of the shotgun discharge also impacted an adjoining co-worker seated nearby, but Roberts then switched to his handgun, intentionally targeting the witness with multiple shots to eliminate her account of the homicide, underscoring the calculated nature of the assault in a building otherwise free of patient interactions.
The female co-worker, whose identity remains protected for privacy and safety, sustained severe injuries from both shotgun and handgun fire, enduring multiple wounds that required emergency surgery and intensive care. Described by police as extraordinarily fortunate to survive, she stabilized following operations, embarking on a lengthy recovery trajectory marked by physical and emotional challenges after witnessing the brutal killing up close.
Bradenton Police, treating the incident with full active shooter protocols, coordinated rapidly with Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and Palmetto Police to track Roberts as he fled in a described vehicle toward the DeSoto Bridge. Witnesses provided critical details that enabled a traffic stop within approximately 25 minutes, leading to his custody in Palmetto without further incident.
Roberts cooperated with an interview by the Manatee Homicide Investigation Unit, resulting in his arrest shortly before 6 p.m. on charges of first-degree murder with a firearm and attempted first-degree murder with a firearm, with a judge subsequently ordering no bond during his initial court appearance.
Myshaela Burnham lived a life centered on her role as a devoted mother, balancing professional responsibilities in the medical field with the joys and demands of raising her children. Her presence brought dedication and care to both her workplace and family, reflecting quiet strength in everyday commitments amid Bradenton’s vibrant community.