In a quiet Albany neighborhood, a story of generosity and tragedy unfolded, leaving a community in mourning. Patricia Ann Kelley, a 65-year-old woman known for her immense capacity for love and her willingness to help others, was tragically killed in her Myrtle Avenue home on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. Her life was cut short in an unforeseen act of violence that has been described by authorities as a domestic murder-suicide.
Police responded to reports of gunshots at Kelley's residence,
located between Quail and Ontario streets, just after 3 p.m. Upon arrival, officers discovered Kelley and a man, identified as 60-year-old Patrick Burke Jr., both deceased from gunshot wounds. Emergency medical crews treated both individuals at the scene, but their efforts were in vain, and both were pronounced dead inside the home.
Investigators believe that Burke fatally shot Kelley before turning the gun on himself. A firearm was recovered at the scene, and police have stated that this was an isolated incident with no ongoing threat to the public. According to Kelley’s son, Burke had been living in her home for the past decade. The tragic events reportedly transpired after Kelley had asked Burke to move out to make room for incoming family members.
Those who knew Patricia Kelley remember her as a pillar of strength, courage, and generosity. An avid lover of camping, gardening, and baking, she was the heart of her family, especially cherished by her grandchildren. Her sudden and violent death has left a void in the lives of her loved ones and the community she so openly embraced.
