LAKELAND, FL – A community is reeling after a violent act left a mother dead and her 13-year-old daughter fighting for her life just days before Christmas, following a domestic dispute that escalated beyond comprehension late Monday night.
Authorities said deputies responded to a home on Lemon Avenue shortly before 11 p.m., where they discovered Crystal Kenney, 39, killed in what investigators are calling a murder-suicide. Her 13-year-old daughter was found nearby suffering from gunshot wounds to her face and shoulder, while a 1-year-old girl was inside the home unharmed. The family’s ordeal began when an argument allegedly broke out after Kenney asked her husband, Jason Kenney, to turn off a televised football game.
The surviving teen, despite her devastating injuries, remained conscious and was able to tell those on the scene what had happened. She pleaded with her stepfather not to harm her, but her pleas were ignored, according to authorities. The bullet struck near the bridge of her nose, traveled upward, and exited through the top of her head, causing severe trauma. She is currently listed in critical but stable condition at a local hospital, but officials said she is alert and communicating—a development described as extraordinary, given the extent of her wounds.
As the violence unfolded, the family’s 12-year-old son managed to escape and run to a neighbor for help, recounting the argument and the subsequent gunshots he heard as he fled. The rapid actions of the boy ensured first responders arrived swiftly, though nothing could be done for his mother.
Law enforcement quickly identified Jason Kenney, 47, as the suspect. After the shooting, he reportedly contacted his sister from his truck, confessed to the crime, and suggested this would be their final conversation. He then fled to his father’s property in Lake Wales, where he took his own life in a shed as police tried to persuade him to surrender.
Investigators searching the home later discovered an undated letter from Crystal Kenney, expressing concern over her husband’s struggles with substance abuse. Detectives believe tensions in the household were escalating in the weeks leading up to the incident.
Authorities have described the incident as particularly tragic given its timing, three days ahead of Christmas, and the long-term effect it will have on the children involved. The 13-year-old’s strength and ability to speak despite devastating injuries has been hailed as nothing short of miraculous by those familiar with her plight.
While the youngest child was unharmed physically, all three surviving children are now left facing an uncertain future without their mother, and with memories of the violence that shattered their home.
Support services are being mobilized to provide both immediate and long-term aid to the victims’ family members, aiming to help them cope with the loss and trauma experienced. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue gathering details about the events leading up to the violence.
Officials have urged anyone struggling with domestic issues or substance abuse to seek assistance, emphasizing the ripple effects that such tragedies have on families and entire communities.