A 29-year-old Florida man is in custody after allegedly carrying out a random, deadly shooting that claimed the lives of three tourists who were stranded at their holiday rental property. The incident occurred in a neighbourhood popular with visitors to the Walt Disney World Resort.
Chilling Details of the Kissimmee Shooting
Osceola County Sheriff Christopher Blackmon announced the arrest of Ahmad Jihad Bojeh during a press conference on Saturday. Bojeh faces three counts of first-degree murder for what the sheriff described as a "cold-blooded" and premeditated attack.
Police rushed to the scene on Indian Point Circle in the Indian Hills subdivision around 12:14 p.m. on Saturday after receiving multiple 911 calls about gunfire. Upon arrival, a deputy made a grim discovery: three men lying dead from gunshot wounds in the yard of the rental property.
Victims Identified as Stranded Visitors
The victims have been identified as two brothers: Robert Lewis Kraft, 70, of Holland, Michigan, and Douglas Joseph Kraft, 68, of Columbus, Ohio. The third victim is a 68-year-old male friend from Ohio, whose identity is being withheld pending notification of his next of kin.
According to Sheriff Blackmon, the trio of tourists was forced to extend their stay at the rental property due to car trouble. Another individual who had been staying with them had already left the day before the tragedy.
Swift Arrest and Troubled History of the Suspect
In a swift police response, authorities located Ahmad Jihad Bojeh inside his home next door to the rental property just one hour after the shooting. He was arrested without incident.
Investigators executed a search warrant at Bojeh's residence and recovered two firearms. They are currently working to determine if these weapons were used in the killings.
Sheriff Blackmon revealed that Bojeh was a known troubled resident and a "frequent flier to the sheriff’s office." Court records obtained by local media indicate Bojeh was previously arrested in 2021 for firing at a person and random vehicles in a Kissimmee gas station parking lot, injuring one man. He was later acquitted of those charges by reason of insanity.
"I can tell you he was a threat to that neighborhood all the time," Blackmon stated.
Ongoing Investigation and Legal Proceedings
The sheriff emphasized that the investigation is still in its early stages, noting it appears to be a random act of violence with no prior conflict between the suspect and the victims. "We have nothing. Just looks like a random, but again, the investigation... it’s ongoing," Blackmon said.
A judge has ordered Bojeh to be held without bond at the Osceola County Jail as the legal process begins. The community of Kissimmee, a hub for international and domestic tourists, is left reeling from this shocking and senseless act of violence.
