Florida Mom Crystal Kenney Killed in Tragic Christmas‑Week Shooting
Friends of Crystal Kenney, who was described as the “foundation” of her family, are rallying to support her three children after the heartbreaking loss. The mother of a 13‑year‑old daughter, a 12‑year‑old son, and a 1‑year‑old toddler was shot Sunday night, and the incident quickly escalated into a tragic murder–suicide.
The Violence Unfolds
Police say that Crystal asked her husband, Joseph Kenney, to stop a football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Indianapolis Colts. According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Joseph had been drinking at the time. A heated argument erupted, and Joseph opened fire on Crystal, striking her in the chest. After taking her down, he fired a second shot—this time aimed at the 13‑year‑old daughter’s head. The teenager survived but was hospitalized in critical condition, the fundraiser noted. A 1‑year‑old sister was found unharmed after sleeping in her crib.
Meanwhile, the 12‑year‑old son fled to a neighbor’s house and called 911. He heard the gunshots as he ran, deputies later confirmed. When authorities reached the home, they found Crystal Kenney dead from a gunshot wound. The husband later fled the scene and shot himself in a shed on his father’s property as deputies closed in.
Immediate Response and Ongoing Recovery
“This is a total shock; we’re all just…in disbelief,” shared one neighbor. “We’re here on weekends, delivering food, just a bit of normalcy,” another added.
The GoFundMe campaign set up in Crystal’s name, launched after the shooting, has raised roughly $10,000 as of Saturday. The money will help cover funeral costs, the daughter’s ongoing treatment, and long‑term care for the family as they adjust to life without their mother. “With heavy hearts, we share the heartbreaking loss of Crystal, a loving and devoted mother whose life was stolen far too soon,” the fundraiser posted on Dec. 23. “Her beautiful 13‑year‑old daughter is also in critical condition in the hospital right now. She is expected to pull through.” The fundraiser also recalls that “Being a mother was not just a role for Crystal — it was who she was. She loved her children fiercely and unconditionally, always putting their needs before her own.”
Community Comes Together
A close friend, Crystal Locklear Rusticus, praised the village‑style support the family has received. “I want to thank each and everyone who have been beside us and helping provide dinner for Crystal’s kids last night, and breakfast this morning,” Rusticus wrote in a Christmas Eve post.
She added that neighbors and loved ones stepped in to sit with the children, keep them company, and handle errands. “It all got done, and thanks to amazing people and support in our lives,” she said. Others have described how the children share a bed and refuse to leave each other’s sides, processing the trauma together.
Rusticus also remembered Kenney as “a deeply devoted mother and woman of faith,” who “always made every holiday special for her babies” and ensured her children would always know how deeply they were loved. She promised continued support for the children’s well‑being, noting, “She will live through the hearts of every single person who loved her.”
Aftermath
Deputies who responded found the tragedy in what Sheriff Grady Judd described as a “Christmas miracle” when the 13‑year‑old survived the head injury. The authorities closed the case after confirming the couple’s deaths. The local community stands together, offering meals, watches, and emotional support, underscoring that despite the loss, Crystal’s legacy of love and devotion lives on in her children’s hearts and the town’s collective memory.
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