Florida man kills wife, shoots stepdaughter over NFL game argument before taking own life

Crime

Florida man kills wife, shoots stepdaughter over NFL game argument before taking own life

Polk County deputies found note from Crystal Kenney urging husband to get help for drinking and cocaine use

Louis Casiano Fox News

Published

December 25, 2025 4:53pm EST

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A Florida man shot and killed his wife and shot his stepdaughter earlier this week before fatally shooting himself after an argument over an NFL football game, authorities said.

Jason Kenney, 47, took his own life hours after killing his wife, Crystal Kenney, on Dec. 22, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said at a press conference.

Judd said the murder occurred after Crystal Kenney suggested to her husband that he turn off Monday’s NFL football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Indianapolis Colts.

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Jason Kenney killed himself after killing his wife.

Jason Kenney killed himself after fatally shooting his wife and wounding her daughter during an argument over a football game, authorities said. (Polk County Sheriff's Office)

Jason Kenney had been drinking, and the argument escalated, prompting his wife to tell her 12-year-old son to call 911.

The boy ran to a neighbor’s home when he heard gunshots. Responding deputies found Crystal Kenney dead, as well as a 13-year-old girl who had been shot in the shoulder and face.

She is recovering in a hospital.

"She said, ‘I begged him, don’t shoot me, don’t shoot me, don’t shoot me, and he shot me anyway,’" Judd said.

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Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd and Polk County Schools Superintendent Fred Heid announced Thursday that 24 students had been arrested since the start of the school year for making written threats. (Polk County Schools YouTube)

The boy was unharmed, as was Jason and Crystal’s 1-year-old daughter, who was home at the time of the shooting. She was found by deputies asleep in her crib.

After the shooting, Jason Kenney fled the scene and called his sister, who lives in upstate New York, Judd said. He told her that he had "done something" wrong and that it would be the last time they would talk.

He then drove to his father’s home, where deputies found him. While trying to get him out of a shed, Jason fatally shot himself, Judd said.

During a search of the family’s home, deputies found a note Crystal wrote to her husband urging him to get help.

"You’re drinking, you’re using cocaine again. This is not the way the family should be. You need God," the note states, Judd said.

Polk County Sheriff's Office car (Polk County Sherriff Office)

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The surviving children were handed over to their grandparents.

"The entire family was destroyed," Judd said. "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."

Louis Casiano is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to louis.casiano@fox.com.

Florida man kills wife, shoots stepdaughter over NFL game argument before taking own life