Jimmie Johnson, seven-time NASCAR Cup champion and popular figure in American sports, has broken his silence following a devastating family tragedy that occurred on June 26.
Johnson, for the first time, publicly expressed his sorrow and heartache over an event that resulted in the death of three of his family members.
In an Oklahoma town, an ordinary day in June turned horrific when a woman called 911 to report the sighting of an individual with a firearm in Johnson’s in-law’s residence. Cops found a body in the hallway near the front door, and a gunshot rang out within the house as they were conducting their investigation. Two additional bodies were discovered inside, completing a grim tableau of a suspected murder-suicide.
Among the victims were Johnson’s 11-year-old nephew, Dalton, and his in-laws, Jack and Terry Lynn Janway, his wife Chandra’s parents. Terry Lynn is the main suspect in the murder-suicide, thought to have shot her husband and grandson before taking her own life.
The event has had a profound effect on the Johnson family. Jimmie, who has been wed to Chandra since 2004, and their two daughters, Genevieve and Lydia, have been deeply shaken.
The typically reserved racing icon took to Instagram to express his grief and to express gratitude to everyone who has offered their love and support. In a display of resilience and empathy, he also made a point to remember Terry Lynn in his heartfelt message, despite the accusations against her.
