Polk County, Florida — A tragic domestic dispute resulted in the deaths of a woman and her husband, along with serious injuries to a teenage girl, following a heated argument over an NFL game. Authorities reported that 47-year-old Jason Kenney fatally shot his wife, Crystal Kenney, and subsequently turned the gun on himself after the confrontation escalated.
The incident unfolded on December 22 when a disagreement arose after Crystal suggested to Jason that he stop watching the Monday night game featuring the San Francisco 49ers and the Indianapolis Colts. According to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, the couple’s argument spiraled quickly, fueled by Jason’s intoxication. In a desperate attempt to defuse the situation, Crystal instructed her 12-year-old son to dial 911. The boy fled to a neighbor’s home once gunfire erupted.
When deputies arrived at the scene, they discovered Crystal Kenney dead. They also found her 13-year-old daughter wounded, having sustained gunshot injuries to her shoulder and face. Although she is currently recovering in the hospital, her condition remains serious. Witness reports indicated that she pleaded with her father not to shoot her, but her cries were tragically ignored.
At the time of the shooting, the couple’s 1-year-old daughter was also present in the home but thankfully unharmed. Deputies unearthed her sleeping peacefully in her crib, safe from the chaos that unfolded.
After the shootings, Jason fled the scene and made a call to his sister living in upstate New York. He confessed to having done something wrong and expressed that their conversation would be the last. Shortly thereafter, law enforcement located him at his father’s home. As deputies sought to extract him from a shed, Jason took his own life.
In the aftermath, detectives uncovered a heart-wrenching note Crystal had written to her husband, in which she urged him to seek help for his alcohol and drug use. “You’re drinking, you’re using cocaine again. This is not the way the family should be. You need God,” the note read, revealing the deep struggles within the family.
The couple’s surviving children are now in the custody of their grandparents, providing them a semblance of stability in the wake of the tragedy. Sheriff Judd expressed grief over the incident, reflecting on the profound loss experienced by the family. “The entire family was destroyed. When you go in there, there is a beautiful Christmas tree with lots of Christmas presents under it, just like the nuclear family should be,” he said, alluding to the stark contrast between the home’s festive appearance and the tragedy that unfolded within its walls.