Lower Burrell police: Apollo man fatally shot wife at U-Haul facility after accusing her of cheating

An Apollo man is charged with fatally shooting his wife at a Lower Burrell U-Haul storage facility after accusing her of cheating on him, authorities said.

Alfred Keith Steele, 42, had blood on his shoes and pants when he turned himself in to state police at the Kiski Valley barracks Saturday morning. He told authorities he had “just shot and killed” his wife, Kelly Steele, with a gun stored at the facility, according to a criminal complaint filed by Lower Burrell police.

Kelly Steele, 41, of Apollo was pronounced dead at the scene by Westmoreland County Deputy Coroner Sean Hribal. The coroner’s office said the cause and manner of death will be deter­mined after an autopsy.

The couple met at the storage facility at the former Burrell Plaza along Leechburg Road so Alfred Steele could retrieve some clothes, he told police. An argument broke out when Steele accused his wife of cheating on him, according to the complaint.

Steele told police he took a semi-automatic pistol stored in the unit and shot his wife in the back of the head. He then pushed her body into the unit and took her purse and phone, the complaint said.

A sign at the Lower Burrell U-Haul storage facility says patrons are not permitted to store ammunition in units. U-Haul could not immediately be reached for comment.

Police found Kelly Steele’s body about 9 a.m. Saturday.

The Steeles’ former neighbor Charlie Seibel, from Apollo, described Kelly as a “sweetheart.” Former neighbor Jayne Talmage, also from Apollo, said she was “in shock” after her death.

“She was a good mom and nice neighbor,” Talmage said. “I have nothing negative to say about her.”

Talmage said Kelly Steele worked at Apollo Trust. She had two adult children, Emily and Ean Steele. She also had two grandchildren, Bellamy Steele and Benjamin Steele.

Family friend Jason Bauman, from Vandergrift, believes Kelly’s “down-to-earth” nature will live on through her children.

“Her personality is going to stick around because her children are just as cool as she was,” Bauman said. “She’ll never be forgotten, that’s for sure.”

Steele faces charges of criminal homicide and robbery.

He has previously faced charges for simple assault, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, possession of drug paraphernalia and public drunkenness.

He was already awaiting trial after he allegedly threw a hammer and shards of glass at an officer while fleeing police in January.