A Florida man has been arrested after he allegedly barged into medical lab office and shot his ex-girlfriend to death.
Keith Roberts Jr, 29, is charged with first degree murder in the death of 29-year-old Myshaela Burnham and attempted murder for the shooting of one of Burnham’s co-workers who witnessed the murder, the Bradenton Police Department said.
That woman remains hospitalized, and her name is not being released.
Police said the shooting took place just before 1 p.m. on Thursday, Witnesses who called 911 described a vehicle leaving the scene, and officers quickly found that vehicle heading toward the Desoto Bridge. With the assistance of other police departments, Roberts was taken into custody 25 minutes after the shooting.
He agreed to be interviewed and was formally charged later in the day.
Bradenton Police Chief Josh Cramer described Roberts as “a terrorist,” WTVT reported.
“He terrorized those people’s lives,” said Cramer.
“He walked in an unlocked door and went directly to the desk where the victim was, knowing that’s where her desk was, and directly opened fire at point-blank range,” the sheriff said. “Closer than you and I are likely right now, with a shotgun multiple times. Some of it hitting the victim who was at an adjoining desk. That’s how close it was that the blast hit her too, and then he, in what can only be called premeditated, took out a gun and started shooting at her.”
Police said that Roberts had been a security guard at Manatee Memorial Hospital and that he and Burnham had been in a long-term relationship that recently ended.
The surviving victim is in stable condition, Cramer said, but has a long recovery road ahead of her.
“She was shot multiple times. Shotgun blast and handgun blast. She’s lucky to be alive, really is, and we are all praying for her safe recovery,” he said.
Roberts is being held without bond pending a detention hearing on Friday.
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[Featured image: Bradenton Police Department]