A domestic dispute in Lakeland, Florida, days before Christmas escalated into a fatal act of violence that left an entire family shattered. Authorities say a disagreement over watching a Monday Night Football game ended with 47-year-old Jason Kenney fatally shooting his wife, critically wounding his 13-year-old stepdaughter, and later taking his own life.
The incident, described by law enforcement as devastating and senseless, unfolded inside a home decorated for the holidays, with children present and a one-year-old baby asleep in her crib. Investigators say alcohol use played a role, but the broader circumstances reveal a deeper pattern of domestic instability that culminated in tragedy.
The shooting has drawn national attention not only because of its shocking catalyst but also because of the profound impact on the surviving children, who are now facing life without either parent. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, speaking at a press conference, emphasized the irreversible consequences of the violence, underscoring the emotional toll on the children and first responders alike. As the investigation details emerged, a portrait formed of a household under strain, where unresolved conflict, substance abuse, and access to firearms intersected with fatal consequences.
The Argument That Turned Deadly
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the violence erupted Monday night following an argument between Jason Kenney and his wife, Crystal Kenney, inside their Lakeland home. Investigators said Kenney had been drinking throughout the evening and was initially spending time in a shed on the property before entering the house. Once inside, he began watching the end of a Monday Night Football game in the living room, where Crystal was present. When she expressed that she did not want to watch football, the disagreement intensified.
What began as a verbal dispute quickly escalated. At one point, Crystal yelled for her 12-year-old son to call 911. The boy ran from the house to a neighbor’s home to seek help as gunshots rang out. Deputies arrived within minutes, but by then, the situation had already turned fatal. Crystal Kenney was found dead in the living room with a gunshot wound to the head.
Nearby, Crystal’s 13-year-old daughter was discovered suffering from two gunshot wounds, one to the shoulder and another to the face. Emergency responders rushed her to a nearby hospital, where she was listed in critical but stable condition. Sheriff Judd later recounted a harrowing detail relayed by investigators, stating that Crystal had pleaded for her life before being shot. The sheriff described the act as an absolute destruction of a family, emphasizing the cruelty and finality of the violence.
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Inside the home at the time was also the couple’s one-year-old daughter, who was found asleep in her crib and physically unharmed. The presence of multiple children during the shooting has been a focal point of law enforcement statements, highlighting the enduring psychological trauma likely to affect the survivors.
The Aftermath and Police Response
After shooting his wife and stepdaughter, investigators say Jason Kenney fled the scene in his truck. During his escape, he contacted his sister, who lives in upstate New York, and told her that he had done something “really bad” and that he was not going to jail. This phone call would later help authorities track his movements as they launched a search.
Deputies eventually located Kenney at his late father’s property in Lake Wales, where he was hiding inside a shed. Law enforcement officers surrounded the area and ordered him to come out peacefully. Moments later, they heard a single gunshot. Kenney was found dead from what authorities determined to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Sheriff Judd described the scene left behind at the family’s home as particularly heartbreaking. Inside, detectives saw a decorated Christmas tree with presents arranged beneath it, a stark contrast to the violence that had just occurred. Judd said even seasoned homicide detectives were visibly shaken by what they encountered, noting that the setting reflected what appeared to be a traditional family preparing for the holidays.
Authorities confirmed that there had been no prior calls for service to the Kenney residence and that Jason Kenney had no criminal history. Despite this, neighbors later told reporters that Kenney had exhibited abusive behavior in the past, suggesting that the household may have been dealing with unreported domestic issues. Law enforcement officials cautioned that the absence of prior police reports does not necessarily indicate the absence of previous violence or threats.
The investigation concluded that there were no additional suspects and that the incident was an isolated domestic homicide followed by suicide. Nevertheless, the sheriff’s office stressed that the emotional consequences would extend far beyond the immediate crime scene, particularly for the children who survived.
Warning Signs, Substance Use, and Impact on the Children
As investigators continued to piece together the events leading up to the shooting, they discovered a handwritten note inside the home that shed light on ongoing marital tensions. Sheriff Judd revealed that Crystal Kenney had written the note at some point in the past, addressing her husband’s behavior and substance use. In the note, she expressed concern about his drinking and cocaine use, urging him to change for the sake of the family and to seek spiritual guidance.
The note suggested that substance abuse had been an ongoing issue within the household, raising questions about whether the argument over the football game was merely a trigger rather than the root cause of the violence. Law enforcement officials did not state whether Kenney was under the influence of drugs at the time of the shooting, but they confirmed he had been drinking that night.
Experts in domestic violence often note that alcohol can intensify existing conflicts and lower inhibitions, increasing the risk of violent outcomes. In this case, authorities believe the combination of alcohol, unresolved domestic tensions, and access to a firearm created a volatile environment with catastrophic results.
The surviving children now face an uncertain future. Crystal’s two older children from a previous relationship, along with the couple’s baby, have been placed in the care of their grandparents. The 13-year-old girl who was shot remains hospitalized, and her recovery is expected to be long and complex, both physically and emotionally. Her younger brother, who ran for help, is also likely to require extensive support as he processes the trauma of witnessing the violence and losing his mother.
Sheriff Judd emphasized that the sheriff’s office and local support services would do everything possible to assist the family during this period. He repeatedly returned to the theme of the children’s mental health in his remarks, describing the timing of the tragedy so close to Christmas as especially devastating. The loss of both parents in such a violent manner, he said, would leave lasting scars.
The case has reignited discussions about domestic violence warning signs, substance abuse, and firearm safety, particularly in households experiencing conflict. While authorities stopped short of broader policy commentary, the details revealed in the investigation underscore how quickly domestic disputes can escalate when underlying issues go unaddressed. The handwritten note left by Crystal Kenney stands as a stark reminder that signs of distress were present long before the final argument unfolded, even if they never reached the attention of law enforcement.
As the community of Lakeland grapples with the aftermath, the focus remains on the children left behind and the long road ahead for their healing. The violence that unfolded over what initially appeared to be a trivial disagreement has permanently altered multiple lives, serving as a grim example of how domestic conflict, when combined with substance use and firearms, can lead to irreversible tragedy.
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