LAKE WALES, Fla. — A tragic domestic incident unfolded earlier this week when a man allegedly shot and killed his wife before turning the gun on himself following a dispute reportedly linked to an NFL game. The confrontation occurred on Dec. 22 and involved Jason Kenney, 47, who law enforcement officials say was intoxicated at the time.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office detailed that the argument between Jason and his wife, Crystal Kenney, escalated dramatically after she suggested he turn off the television during the Monday night football match featuring the San Francisco 49ers and the Indianapolis Colts. After the situation deteriorated, Crystal instructed her 12-year-old son to call for help.
As the boy sought refuge at a neighbor’s home, he was met with the terrifying sound of gunfire. First responders arrived at the couple’s residence to discover Crystal Kenney deceased and her 13-year-old daughter injured with gunshot wounds to her shoulder and face. The young girl is currently recovering in a local hospital.
During a press briefing, Sheriff Grady Judd recounted the chilling words of the surviving daughter, who desperately pleaded with her stepfather to refrain from shooting her. Her plea, however, went unheard, leading to her current hospitalization. Fortunately, the couple’s 1-year-old daughter was found uninjured in her crib at the home.
Following the shooting incident, Jason Kenney fled the scene, making a phone call to his sister who resides in upstate New York. During this conversation, he hinted at having committed a serious offense, implying the impending finality of their communication. He subsequently drove to his father’s home, where law enforcement located him.
Attempts by deputies to persuade Jason Kenney to exit a shed he was occupying ended in tragedy when he reportedly took his own life. Authorities noted that during their search of the Kenney home, they discovered a heartfelt note written by Crystal, which implored her husband to seek help for his substance abuse issues. In the letter, she expressed her deep concern about his drinking and drug use.
In the aftermath of this heartbreaking event, the surviving children have been placed in the custody of their grandparents. Sheriff Judd voiced the profound impact of the incident, describing the devastation felt not just by the immediate family but by the law enforcement officers involved in the case. He noted the stark contrast between the holiday setting, with its decorated Christmas tree and wrapped gifts, and the somber reality of a family shattered by violence.