Florida mother fatally shot shielding children after husband erupted over NFL game, sheriff says
A Highland City mother, Crystal Roure, 38, was fatally shot Dec. 22, 2025, after an argument over an NFL game; her husband, Jason Kenney, 47, later died by suicide. Roure reportedly shielded her children during the attack.
Key takeaways
- Victim: Crystal Roure, 38, was shot in the head at her Highland City home on Dec. 22, 2025.
- Suspect: Jason Kenney, 47, fled the scene and was later found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
- Children: A 13-year-old stepdaughter was shot twice and remained in critical condition; a 12-year-old son escaped and called for help; a 1-year-old was uninjured.
The shooting
Police say the violence began late on the night of Dec. 22 after Jason Kenney, who had been drinking while watching the game in a shed on the family property, came back into the Highland City home around 11 p.m. to watch the end of Monday Night Football, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office statement and local reporting (see Fox News and SportsRadio KJR).
Authorities said a verbal dispute escalated after Roure indicated she did not want to watch the football game. During the fight, Roure told her 12-year-old son to run to a nearby neighbor’s house and call 911. As the child fled, he heard a single gunshot. Deputies who later entered the house found Roure dead in the living room with a fatal head wound.
Police also reported that a 13-year-old stepdaughter was shot twice in her bed and taken to hospital in critical condition; relatives told reporters the girl begged, “don’t shoot me,” before being struck. The family’s 1-year-old was asleep in a crib and was not harmed (Fox News; AOL).
Flight, phone call and the suspect’s death
Shortly after the shootings, Kenney phoned his sister and said he had “done something really bad and he was not going to jail,” predicting she would “see it on the news,” according to investigators’ accounts reported by local media. He then left in his truck and drove to a shed on his deceased father’s property in nearby Lake Wales, where deputies later found him dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Responding officers reported hearing a shot when they approached the area (Fox News).
Sheriff’s account and scene details
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd described the home’s holiday decorations as starkly at odds with the violence, noting a “beautiful Christmas tree with lots of Christmas presents” had been “absolutely destroyed” by the actions that night. Sheriff Judd also said the family had no prior criminal history or domestic-violence calls on record, a detail that has complicated the investigation and the family’s public response (Fox News).
Relatives’ accounts and background
Relatives painted a different picture of the marriage, telling reporters Kenney had relapsed into drinking after the couple married and had also used cocaine, according to local media accounts. An undated letter attributed to Roure was cited by relatives as evidence she had urged her husband to seek help, telling him to turn to God and to stop using substances. Roure’s sister, Stephanie Roure, praised Crystal’s actions that night, calling her a hero for protecting the children and for enabling the 911 call that ultimately summoned help (Fox News).
Public records and domestic-violence context
Officials said they found no prior entries in law-enforcement databases indicating domestic-violence calls at the home. That absence highlights a recurring challenge: many abusive relationships do not leave official records until tragedy occurs. Neighbors and relatives described strained relations and behavioral changes in Kenney before the shooting; those accounts are being reviewed as investigators piece together a fuller timeline (Fox News).
Memorials and public reaction
Crystal Roure has been added to the National Gun Violence Memorial as a victim of gun violence in Highland City on Dec. 22, 2025. The memorial entry lists her name and date and provides a public record of lives lost to firearm incidents.
Family members and neighbors described an outpouring of grief and calls for support for surviving children. Community leaders and local charities are often engaged in such situations to assist survivors with immediate needs, though details of specific support for this family had not been released publicly as of the latest reports (AOL; Fox News).
Investigative steps ahead
Polk County investigators continue to confirm the timeline and collect evidence from the Highland City home and the shed where Kenney was found. Officials will review phone records, witness statements and any available surveillance or digital evidence as part of the homicide investigation that ended with an apparent suicide by the suspect. Deputy statements and the sheriff’s public remarks remain primary sources of detail so far (Fox News).
Highland City domestic violence: patterns and prevention
Experts say this case — where relatives describe escalating substance use and unreported domestic problems — reflects familiar patterns in many family tragedies. Domestic violence can go unreported for years; substance relapse and family stress may act as triggers. Public-health guidance recommends neighbors, extended family and health professionals watch for signs of escalation and engage support services when safe.
Implications for The World
Public health and prevention: The incident underscores the importance of integrated services for substance abuse, mental health and domestic-violence prevention. Cross-sector early-intervention programs and safe reporting channels can reduce escalations.
Firearms and safety: A domestic dispute that ends in gun violence raises questions about firearm access, storage and emergency intervention; the case highlights the role of policy and law enforcement in prevention.
Children and trauma: Immediate and long-term needs for children exposed to family violence include emergency medical care, psychological support and stable housing. The survival of the 1-year-old and the 12-year-old’s actions point to both heroic responses and the need for trauma-informed services.
Community vigilance and reporting: The lack of prior official reports points to a global challenge: encouraging safe reporting and community intervention before violence escalates. Strengthening awareness and accessible reporting mechanisms is relevant worldwide.
Media reporting and cultural context: Balanced, non-sensational reporting can raise public awareness without retraumatizing survivors or oversimplifying causes. This case invites careful coverage and policy conversations about prevention, support and accountability.
Reporting notes and sources
This report is based on statements and details released by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and on local reporting compiled by Times Media Service and other outlets. Key reporting used in this article includes accounts published by Fox News, SportsRadio KJR, AOL and the National Gun Violence Memorial.
Authorities have not released additional details on the NFL game itself, earlier law-enforcement interactions beyond what has been reported, or updates on the surviving child’s medical condition. Further information will be made available by Polk County investigators as the inquiry continues (Fox News).
“Crystal Roure acted to protect her children,” relatives said, calling her actions that night heroic amid a rapidly unfolding tragedy.
