Florida Man Kills Wife, Shoots Teen Stepdaughter, Then Takes His Own Life After Argument Over TV Channel
FLORIDA — A domestic dispute over changing a TV channel turned into a deadly shooting inside a Lakeland home, leaving a wife dead, a teenage girl critically injured, and the gunman — her stepfather — dead from a self-inflicted gunshot, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Argument Over TV Channel Escalates Into Deadly Attack
Sheriff Grady Judd said Jason Kenney and his wife, Crystal Kenney, were watching football when Crystal suggested changing the channel. The disagreement escalated, and Crystal told her 12-year-old son to call 911. As the boy ran next door for help, he heard a gunshot from inside the home.
Deputies arrived minutes later and found Crystal Kenney dead from a gunshot wound to the head. Inside a bedroom, officers discovered Crystal’s 13-year-old daughter suffering from two gunshot wounds, including one to the face and one to the shoulder. Jason Kenney was identified as the girl’s stepfather.
Teen Stepdaughter Critically Injured But Survives
Sheriff Judd said the bullets left the teen in critical condition, with one round entering through her nose and exiting through the top of her head. Despite the life-threatening injuries, the girl was described as awake, alert, and able to speak with investigators. She told deputies she begged her stepfather not to shoot, but he fired anyway. A 1-year-old child, Jason Kenney’s biological son, was also inside the home at the time but was not harmed.
Gunman Flees And Later Kills Himself
After the shooting, Kenney fled the home and called his sister, admitting he had “done something bad” and would not spend the rest of his life in prison. Investigators say he traveled to his late father’s home in Lake Wales, where he entered a shed on the property.
Deputies arrived shortly after and ordered him to come out. They heard a single gunshot, and Kenney was found dead from a self-inflicted wound to the forehead.
Children Now In Care Of Relatives
Authorities confirmed that the children have been placed in the care of grandparents. The two older children have a biological father in California who has had no recent contact with them, while the 1-year-old is now left orphaned after the tragedy.
This case continues to leave the Lakeland community shaken as investigators review the full timeline of events leading up to the fatal dispute. If you have thoughts about this incident or want to share your perspective on domestic violence awareness, join the conversation at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
