Highland City mom killed shielding kids in NFL game argument; husband dies in apparent murder-suicide
Crystal Roure, 38, was fatally shot in Highland City on Dec. 22, 2025, after shielding her children during an argument over Monday Night Football; her husband, Jason Kenney, 47, later died in an apparent murder‑suicide.
Key takeaways
- Victim: Crystal Roure, 38, received a fatal gunshot to the head while protecting her children.
- Suspect/decedent: Jason Kenney, 47, left the home, admitted he had “done something really bad,” and was later found dead of a self‑inflicted gunshot wound.
- Children: A 13‑year‑old daughter survived two gunshot wounds; a 12‑year‑old son ran for help; a 1‑year‑old daughter was unharmed and found in her crib.
- Context: Investigators say the fight began over watching the San Francisco 49ers vs. Indianapolis Colts game and involved alcohol and possible drug use.
Key information
Victim: Crystal Roure, 38, was shot in the head and perished in the family living room, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office statement via Fox News.
Suspect/decedent: Jason Kenney, 47, left the home after the shooting, called a relative saying he had “done something really bad,” and was later found dead of a self‑inflicted gunshot wound, as reported by Fox News.
Children: The 13‑year‑old daughter was shot twice (shoulder and face) and is recovering; the 12‑year‑old son ran to a neighbor to call 911; the 1‑year‑old daughter was unharmed and found in her crib (Fox News).
What sparked the violence: Authorities say Kenney had been drinking while watching the San Francisco 49ers vs. Indianapolis Colts game in a shed, then entered the house to watch the end; Roure told him she did not want to watch football and a fight followed (Fox News; 973 The Game / iHeart).
Evidence found: Deputies recovered an undated note from Roure mentioning drinking and cocaine use and urging Kenney to seek God; relatives reported ongoing abuse though no prior recorded domestic calls were found (Fox News).
Memorial listing: Roure is listed on the National Gun Violence Memorial (National Gun Violence Memorial).
What happened that night
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the sequence began late on Dec. 22, around 11 p.m., after Kenney had been drinking in a shed on the family property. The couple’s disagreement over watching the conclusion of Monday Night Football escalated quickly after Kenney entered the home.
Roure told their 12‑year‑old son to run to a neighbor’s house and call 911; the boy heard a single gunshot while fleeing. Deputies arriving on scene found Roure in the living room with a fatal gunshot wound to the head. The 13‑year‑old daughter was shot twice in her bed but survived; the 1‑year‑old baby was safe in her crib (Fox News).
After the shootings, Kenney called his sister and told her he had “done something really bad” and that he was “not going to jail,” investigators said. He then left in his truck and drove to property in Lake Wales belonging to his late father. Deputies later heard a gunshot at that location and found Kenney inside a shed with a self‑inflicted head wound. Law enforcement has described the case as an apparent murder‑suicide (Fox News).
Accounts from family and officials
Sheriff Grady Judd provided details about the victims’ injuries and Roure’s actions that likely saved her children’s lives. Sheriff Judd said the 13‑year‑old daughter begged, “don’t shoot me,” and that the child is recovering with bullets having missed major organs (Fox News).
“She died a hero,” Roure’s sister Stephanie told reporters, describing the family’s devastation and saying the surviving children are now in the care of grandparents.
Relatives told investigators Kenney had been abusive “for a while,” though Sheriff Judd noted there were no prior domestic‑violence calls listed for the couple. Neighbors and officials described the scene — a decorated Christmas tree with presents — as a stark image of the tragedy (973 The Game / iHeart; Fox News).
Evidence and background investigators found
Investigators who searched the home recovered a note from Roure to Kenney that warned: “You’re drinking, you’re using cocaine again. This is not the way a family should be. You need God.” The note is undated, but officials included it among evidence suggesting long‑standing family tensions. Relatives said Kenney had been physically abusive, though the sheriff’s office reported no criminal record for him (Fox News).
The presence of alcohol and possible drug use, the note, family statements and the late‑night argument about a football game have become part of investigators’ narrative of what led to the killings (973 The Game / iHeart).
Community response and neighbor accounts
Neighbors reported a chaotic scene in the hours after the shootings. One account cited in local coverage said a grandparent and a 3‑year‑old relative became involved when the door to the home was opened during first‑response efforts, though public reports limit further detail. Family members and neighbors have organized privately to support the surviving children and to honor Roure’s actions that night (Fox News).
The case has stirred conversations in Highland City and nearby rural areas about domestic violence, substance abuse and access to guns. Community leaders, churches and schools are among groups likely to play central roles in the aftermath.
Why this case matters locally
This tragedy hits small, rural communities hard. Families know neighbors, children attend the same schools, and a death in one household can reverberate across churches, workplaces and local businesses. Sheriff Judd’s description of the Christmas tree and scattered gifts underscored how normal family life was interrupted.
The lack of prior police calls in a household relatives describe as troubled raises questions about how warning signs of abuse and substance use can be better recognized and addressed before they turn deadly.
Implications for the United States
- Public safety and domestic violence response: Rural communities face challenges detecting and responding to domestic abuse before escalation; improved outreach, anonymous reporting and victim resources are critical.
- Substance use and mental health: Alcohol and alleged cocaine use were factors mentioned by investigators; lack of local treatment options in rural areas increases risk.
- Firearm access and storage: A firearm was used in both the killing and the subsequent suicide; the case raises questions about safe storage and temporary removal options like red‑flag measures.
- Support for surviving children: The three children are now in grandparents’ care; rural social services, schools and faith communities will need trauma‑informed funding and coordination.
- Community cohesion and prevention: Tragedies can galvanize local leaders to build prevention programs that respect local values — faith‑based counseling, community watch programs and addiction support.
Resources and records
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office provided the primary factual statement used by media outlets reporting the case. More details were shared by family members to local reporters. Roure is listed on the National Gun Violence Memorial (National Gun Violence Memorial).
Reporting notes and sources
This article is based on the Polk County Sheriff’s Office statement and reporting by Times Media Service partners. Primary sources include local news coverage and law enforcement releases as reported by Fox News, coverage from 973 The Game / iHeart and the National Gun Violence Memorial (National Gun Violence Memorial).
Immediate questions remain about whether there were unreported signs that could have prompted intervention and what local supports can be strengthened to help families like the Roures. In Highland City and similar communities across the country, the loss of a parent who shielded her children during an argument over an NFL game is a stark reminder that domestic disputes can become deadly in an instant — and that prevention requires attention from neighbors, law enforcement, medical providers and community leaders.
