Florida Shooting Erupts After Family Dispute During Game

A Domestic dispute over an NFL game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Indianapolis Colts ended in a fatal Florida shooting. A quiet evening in Highland City, Florida, turned into a scene of devastation on Monday, leaving a mother dead, a teenager critically injured, and a family shattered just days before the Christmas holiday.

Timeline of The Fatal Florida Shooting

Authorities in Polk County confirmed that a 47-year-old man shot his wife and stepdaughter before taking his own life, a sequence of violence reportedly sparked by an argument over a televised National Football League broadcast. The incident has drawn attention to the volatile nature of domestic disputes and the tragic consequences that can arise from substance abuse and momentary rage.

Jason Kenney, 47, had been watching his favorite team, the 49ers, beat the Colts, when his wife, per a statement from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, “told him that she did not want to watch football anymore.” The office added that Jason Kenney had “been drinking during the evening” in Lakeland.

What began as a disagreement over the NFL game quickly spiraled into a violent confrontation. In addition, the argument began when Crystal Kenney suggested watching something else. As the verbal altercation grew more aggressive, Crystal Kenney instructed her 12-year-old son to run to a neighbor’s house to dial 911.

As the boy fled the home to seek assistance, shots rang out. Deputies arriving at the scene discovered Crystal Kenney deceased from gunshot wounds. Her 13-year-old daughter had also been shot, sustaining critical injuries to her face and shoulder. Remarkably, the couple’s one-year-old daughter was found unharmed, asleep in her crib amidst the chaos.

Sheriff Details the Harrowing Scene of the Florida Shooting

The aftermath of the violence left seasoned law enforcement officers shaken, particularly given the proximity to the holidays. The residence, decorated for Christmas, stood in stark contrast to the brutality that occurred within its walls. As reported by Fox News, Polk County, Florida Sheriff Grady Judd described the heartbreaking contrast found at the residence during a press conference.

He said on Fox News, “The entire family was destroyed. Our homicide detectives are distraught. 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.” The emotional toll on the surviving children is expected to be immense. While the 12-year-old boy and the infant were physically unharmed, the 13-year-old girl faced a life-threatening situation.

Investigators revealed that the teenager was conscious when authorities arrived and was able to provide a statement regarding the moments leading up to the Florida shooting. Sheriff Judd recounted that the 13-year-old girl begged Jason Kenney not to shoot her, but he shot her twice anyway. Medical reports indicate that the bullet struck the bridge of the girl’s nose and deflected through the top of her skull, a trajectory that likely saved her life.

She remains hospitalized but is expected to survive. Following the shooting, Jason Kenney fled the scene in his truck. A manhunt ensued across Polk County as investigators attempted to track his movements. During his flight, Kenney reportedly contacted his sister in New York, confessing that he had done something terrible and indicating that the call would be their last conversation.

Manhunt and Motive in the Florida Shooting Investigation

Following the shooting, Jason Kenney fled the scene in his truck. A manhunt ensued across Polk County as investigators attempted to track his movements. During his flight, Kenney reportedly contacted his sister in New York, confessing that he had done something terrible and indicating that the call would be their last conversation.

Deputies eventually tracked Kenney to a property in Lake Wales, Florida, formerly owned by his father. He was located inside a shed on the premises. As law enforcement officers attempted to communicate with him and coax him out, a single gunshot was heard.

A SWAT team subsequently entered the structure and found Kenney dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. While the immediate trigger for the violence appears to have been the argument over the NFL game, investigators uncovered evidence suggesting deeper issues within the household. During a search of the Highland City home, detectives found a handwritten letter from Crystal Kenney addressed to her husband.

Sheriff Judd stated that the note pleaded with Jason Kenney to seek help for substance abuse issues. The letter referenced his drinking and an alleged return to cocaine use, urging him to turn to faith to heal their family. Despite the discovery of the note, the Sheriff’s Office noted that there was no prior history of domestic violence calls to the residence, and Jason Kenney had no criminal record.

The Aftermath of Tragedy

The surviving children have been placed in the custody of their grandparents as the Florida Department of Children and Families assesses the situation to determine long-term care arrangements. The community in Highland City remains in shock as details continue to emerge about how a mundane evening watching sports devolved into a tragedy that claimed two lives and forever altered the lives of three children.

The investigation is ongoing, though authorities have stated they are not looking for any other suspects in connection with the case. What should have been wonderful turned into a cold-blooded killing. It’s important to have compassion and thoughts for the families affected.