A random burst of gunfire near Disney World left three tourists dead and a neighborhood shaken after deputies say a local man hunted down strangers stranded next door.
Authorities in central Florida say 29-year-old Ahmad Jihad Bojeh was arrested after three men were shot and killed outside a rental home in Kissimmee, just minutes from the world-famous theme parks.
Deputies describe the killings as deliberate and unprovoked, unfolding after the victims’ vehicle broke down beside Bojeh’s residence.
Bojeh now faces three counts of premeditated murder along with a resisting arrest charge, according to county jail records.
He was booked into the Osceola County Jail on Saturday and ordered held without bond after a judge found probable cause.
Sheriff Christopher Blackmon delivered a blunt assessment during a Sunday briefing, declaring, “It was cold-blooded, it was premeditated.”
He noted that the victims had no prior interaction with the suspect, adding, “There was absolutely no issues. There was no conflict between these people. This was just random.”
The scene played out in a residential pocket roughly eight miles from Disney World, an area packed with short-term rentals popular with out-of-state visitors.
Investigators say the three men became stuck at a rental property next to Bojeh’s home when their car failed, placing them in the wrong place at the worst possible moment.
Deputies were flooded with emergency calls at about 12:14 p.m. When officers arrived roughly five minutes later, they found three men dead outside the rental house.
Bojeh was spotted fleeing toward his own property, prompting an immediate manhunt.
A warrant was secured the same day, and deputies moved in to take Bojeh into custody at his residence.
Two firearms were recovered from the property, and investigators are still working to determine whether either weapon was used in the killings.
Blackmon attempted to reassure residents rattled by the violence, telling reporters, “There is no threat to the community, as the suspect responsible for these horrific and senseless murders has been apprehended by Osceola County deputies.”
The sheriff acknowledged that a clear motive remains elusive, stressing the early stage of the case. “As of right now, we have nothing,” he explained.
Authorities identified the victims as brothers Robert Lewis Kraft, 70, of Holland, Michigan, and Douglas Joseph Kraft, 68, of Columbus, Ohio.
The third victim was James John Puchan, 68, also of Columbus. Law enforcement confirmed all next of kin have been notified.
Blackmon revealed Bojeh was no stranger to deputies, painting a troubling picture of repeated law enforcement encounters.
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The sheriff remarked that Bojeh “was a threat to the neighborhood all the time,” adding, “We had a lot of calls for service on this person in that area, so he was a known person, a frequent flier to the sheriff’s office.”
Records show Bojeh had previously been arrested in 2021 after allegedly firing at a person and multiple vehicles in a Wawa gas station parking lot in Kissimmee.
One man was injured but survived, and Bojeh was later acquitted by reason of insanity.
As detectives continue combing through evidence, the Kissimmee case has amplified fears among tourists who flock to nearby rental neighborhoods expecting safety just outside the theme park gates.
The Kissimmee case comes as another recent shooting elsewhere in the state highlights a pattern of seemingly random attacks that leave families and investigators searching for answers.
Earlier this month, police in Ocala charged 29-year-old Isaac Toye with second-degree murder after a man gardening in his front yard was shot and killed without warning.
Officers say the victim, 64-year-old Harold Whitt Harper, had no known connection to Toye.
Investigators allege Toye walked up behind Harper and fired a single shot to the back of his head, killing him in what police labeled a “random act of violence.”
Officers were initially responding to reports of a suspicious person when a separate 911 call alerted them to the shooting.
Harper was found dead in his front yard, while Toye was located nearby carrying a loaded 9mm handgun.
Police say a shell casing recovered at the scene matched the weapon, and additional ammunition was found on Toye.
A neighbor told investigators she heard the gunshot and stepped outside to see Harper’s wife crying, “My husband is dead.”
Family members later shared that Harper had recently undergone major neck surgery and used gardening as therapy, carrying only a bucket for weeds at the time.
Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken described the shooting as unprovoked and severed from any personal dispute.
He noted that Toye, a military veteran, had attempted to buy a firearm days earlier but did not complete the purchase because of a mandatory waiting period.
“We are still investigating how he acquired the firearm used in this crime,” Balken stated, adding that some people who may have helped Toye move around the city have refused to cooperate, slowing the investigation.
Police believe Toye had recently been living in a homeless camp in Marion County and was receiving social services near the neighborhood shortly before the killing.
Authorities stressed there is no indication of additional suspects and no ongoing danger to the public.
“This horrific event appears to be a random act of violence. There is no indication that this was a targeted attack or that there are additional suspects. We are confident there is no further danger to the community,” the Ocala Police Department wrote in a public statement.
“Our hearts go out to the Harper family during this difficult time. We want to thank the residents of the neighborhood who came forward with information, helping us solve this case quickly.”
