Tragedy struck in Lakeland when a drunken father, Joseph Kenney, killed his wife and attempted to kill his 13-year-old stepdaughter in a fit of rage over a football game. The incident occurred on Monday night when Kenney, a fan of the San Francisco 49ers, became enraged after his wife asked him to turn off the game between his team and the Indianapolis Colts.
The teenage stepdaughter was found in her bedroom with gunshot wounds to her head and shoulder. Miraculously, one of the bullets passed straight through her head, leading Sheriff Grady Judd to refer to her survival as a “Christmas miracle.” Despite being in critical condition, the brave girl is now recovering well and even able to provide details of the attack to investigators.
According to reports, Kenney shot his wife, Crystal, before turning the gun on himself. The couple’s 1-year-old daughter was found unharmed in her crib, while their 12-year-old son, who is also Kenney’s stepchild, was not injured. The younger child ran to a neighbor’s house for help upon hearing the gunshots.
After the incident, Kenney fled to his deceased father’s home, where he ultimately took his own life. Prior to his death, he called his sister in upstate New York and confessed to doing something terrible. Police surrounded the home and attempted to persuade him to surrender, but he ultimately shot himself in the head.
A note found in the family’s home indicated that Crystal had urged her husband to seek help for his substance abuse issues. Despite reports of past domestic violence, authorities had never been called to the home for such incidents. The children are now under the care of their grandparents, as the family grapples with the devastating loss.
Sheriff Judd expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, noting the stark contrast of a beautifully decorated Christmas tree surrounded by presents in the family home. The heartbreaking incident serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of domestic violence and substance abuse.
