Bradenton, Fla. — Grief and shock hung heavy over a quiet medical office complex Thursday afternoon after a deadly workplace shooting that ended the life of Myshaela Burnham, 29, and left another woman fighting for her life. The Bradenton Police Department says the suspect, 29-year-old Keith Roberts Jr., was arrested later that day and now faces murder and attempted murder charges.
It was just before 1 p.m. when multiple 911 calls flooded dispatchers reporting gunfire inside a suite of offices in the bustling 5200 block of 4th Avenue Circle East. Officers arrived within minutes to find two women wounded inside a facility that processes medical specimens — a place meant for science, not violence.
Burnham, who police say was Roberts’s former girlfriend, was pronounced dead at the scene from fatal gunshot wounds. Her loss has sent ripples through the community and among her coworkers who described her as dedicated and kind. Another employee, whose name has not been released, was also shot after witnessing the attack. She was rushed to a nearby hospital and remains in critical condition.
Witnesses told officers they saw a vehicle speeding away from the complex shortly after the shots were fired. Thanks to those descriptions and swift coordination between Bradenton, Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, and Palmetto Police Department, authorities tracked the vehicle heading over the DeSoto Bridge into Palmetto. Roberts was stopped and taken into custody roughly 25 minutes after the shooting, officials said.
Once detained, Roberts agreed to speak with homicide detectives before he was formally charged with first-degree murder with a firearm and attempted first-degree murder with a firearm. Police have not released a motive, although investigators continue to piece together the events leading up to the shooting.
Employees at the complex said Thursday’s violence was unimaginable. Many arrived to finish their workday only to be met with yellow police tape and the hum of forensic equipment. Neighbors described the scene as surreal, with bustling medical offices usually humming with routine business now echoing with sorrow.
This tragedy has reignited conversations about workplace safety and mental health resources, especially in environments where personal disputes can spill into public spaces. As Bradenton mourns, church vigils and community support efforts are being organized for both the victims and their families.
