In a shocking incident that shattered a family’s holiday season just days before Christmas, a 13-year-old girl in Lakeland, Florida, miraculously survived being shot in the head and shoulder after her stepfather fatally shot her mother and then turned the gun on himself. Authorities have described the teenager’s survival as a “Christmas miracle,” given the bullet’s trajectory—entering the bridge of her nose and exiting through the top of her skull without causing fatal damage. The events unfolded on the night of December 22, 2025, stemming from a seemingly trivial argument over watching a Monday Night Football game, leaving the community stunned and highlighting the devastating consequences of domestic rage.

The tragedy occurred in a quiet residential home in Highland City, part of Polk County. Jason Kenney, 47, was watching the NFL game between the San Francisco 49ers and Indianapolis Colts when his wife, Crystal Kenney, suggested changing the channel. According to investigators, this minor disagreement escalated rapidly. Kenney, reportedly intoxicated and possibly under the influence of other substances as noted in a prior message from Crystal, retrieved a firearm and shot Crystal in the head, killing her instantly.

Crystal’s 12-year-old son, witnessing the escalating fight, fled to a neighbor’s house and urged them to call 911. As he ran, he heard gunshots. Deputies arrived within minutes to a scene of unimaginable horror: Crystal dead in the living room, her 13-year-old daughter critically wounded in a bedroom with gunshot injuries to the shoulder and face, and the couple’s 1-year-old daughter unharmed, asleep in her crib. A beautifully decorated Christmas tree stood in the home, surrounded by wrapped presents—a stark contrast to the violence that had erupted.

The 13-year-old girl, alert despite her severe injuries, later recounted the terrifying sequence to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. She described begging her stepfather repeatedly: “Don’t shoot me, don’t shoot me, don’t shoot me!” But Kenney shot her anyway—twice—before fleeing the scene. Judd, visibly moved during a press conference, shared her words, emphasizing the callousness of the act.

Kenney drove to his late father’s nearby property, barricaded himself in a shed, and ultimately died by suicide. Deputies located him shortly after, bringing the incident to a grim close.

Medical experts and authorities marveled at the girl’s survival. The bullet to her face followed an extraordinary path: striking the bridge of her nose, traveling upward, and exiting the top of her head without striking critical brain areas. Judd repeatedly called it a “Christmas miracle,” noting she was rushed to Lakeland Regional Health in critical but stable condition, where she remained conscious and able to communicate. The shoulder wound added to her trauma, but her prognosis for recovery appeared hopeful, offering a sliver of light in an otherwise dark story.

The family had appeared ordinary from the outside—a blended household with Crystal’s two older children from a previous relationship, whom Kenney had helped raise, and their shared toddler daughter. No prior domestic violence calls were recorded at the address, though family members later revealed concerns about Kenney’s behavior, including substance issues. A note reportedly left by Crystal urged him to seek help, highlighting underlying tensions.

The surviving children—the wounded teen, her 12-year-old brother, and the infant—were placed in the care of Crystal’s parents, who now face raising them amid profound grief. The home, with its untouched holiday decorations, symbolized shattered normalcy: presents under the tree that would never be opened as planned.

Sheriff Judd expressed outrage and sorrow, calling the destruction of a family over a television program “horrific.” He lamented the timing, just three days before Christmas, and the lasting impact on the children. The case, classified as a murder-suicide with attempted murder, underscored the unpredictability of domestic disputes and the urgent need for intervention in troubled relationships.

Public reaction poured in, with many expressing disbelief at the escalation from a minor argument to irreversible violence. The girl’s bravery in recounting events and her miraculous survival inspired hope, while the loss of Crystal—a mother devoted to her children—drew sympathy. Community support rallied around the grandparents, with calls for mental health resources amplified in the wake of the tragedy.

As the holidays passed quietly for the bereaved family, the story served as a somber reminder of life’s fragility and the hidden struggles within homes. The 13-year-old’s recovery road will be long—physically and emotionally—but her survival stands as an extraordinary testament to resilience amid unimaginable horror.