NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson said his family is “devastated” in his first public comments since his mother-in-law killed her husband and grandson in a suspected triple murder-suicide last month.
Johnson, in a statement posted to his social media profiles, expressed his gratitude for the show of support following the tragedy involving Jack and Terry Janway, and 11-year-old Dalton.
“Our family is devastated by the profound loss of (Terry) Lynn, Jack and Dalton Janway,” Johnson said “We have been humbled by the outpouring of love and support during this unthinkably sad time and remain grateful for all of your compassion.”
Just after 9 p.m. on June 26, police received a call from a woman, believed to be Terry Janway, who reported someone at a Muskogee, Oklahoma residence had a gun, but the caller quickly hung up, according to Fox23.
Bodycam footage showed officers arriving at the home, where they saw Jack Janway’s arm sticking out from under a blanket, through a window.
As police attempted to gain access to the residence, they heard a single gunshot, which investigators later determined to have come from Terry Janway’s self-inflicted shot.
Upon entrance into the home, officers found Jack Janway laying in the middle of a hallway, before discovering Terry laying on a couch unresponsive with a gun beside her.
A K-9 was deployed and Dalton Janway’s body was soon discovered.
Johnson married Terry and Jack Janway’s daughter Chandra in 2004. The couple share two daughters together.
Chandra’s family suffered another tragic death in 2014 when her younger brother Jordan died in a skydiving incident in San Diego.
The seven-time NASCAR Champion was scheduled to race in the Grant Park 220 on July 2, but withdrew following the news of the murder-suicide.
The race, a first-of-its-kind NASCAR event through the streets of Chicago would’ve been Johnson’s fourth race of the year in the top racing series.
Johnson retired from NASCAR in 2020, where he attempted to make another racing career when he signed with IndyCar’s Chip Ganassi Racing, where he raced in 29 reasons between the 2021 and 2022 season.
Johnson hasn’t raced since the NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte on May 28.
