Ahmad Jihad Bojeh, Osceola County, Florida man with a history of mental health issues arrested shooting killing three tourists staying at rental property next door to his Kissimmee home. Suspect had previously been arrested for shooting and injuring at random cars and people but was not charged by reason of insanity.
A Florida man with a history of previously firing at random people and vehicles is accused of shooting and killing three tourists after they became stranded at their rental property in a town popular with Walt Disney World Resort visitors, according to authorities.
Ahmad Jihad Bojeh, 29, was arrested for the ‘cold-blooded’ murders of the three men staying next door to his home in Kissimmee on Saturday, Osceola County Sheriff Christopher Blackmon said during a weekend press conference.
3 stranded tourists shot and killed in cold blood in front yard of Kissimmee rental property
Police responded to 911 calls about shots fired at the rental property in Indian Point Circle in the Indian Hills subdivision around 12:13 p.m. Saturday, Blackmon said.
A deputy discovered the three men dead with gunshot wounds lying in the front yard of the residence according to a Facebook release from the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.
Two of the victims were identified as two brothers, Robert Lewis Kraft, 70, of Holland, Michigan, and Douglas Joseph Kraft, 68, of Columbus, Ohio. The third victim was identified as James John Puchan, 69, of Columbus, Ohio, ClickOrlando reported.
Just an hour after the deadly shooting, cops located Bojeh inside his home next door to the rental property where he was arrested and booked on three counts of first degree murder.
Ahmad Jihad Bojeh insanity plea for prior attempted murder comes for review
Suspect described as troubled resident with frequent run ins with law
‘It was cold-blooded, it was premeditated, there was absolutely no issues. There was no conflict between these people. This was just random. And this happened to be the person who lived next door,’ Blackmon said.
Two firearms were discovered in Bojeh’s home after police executed a search warrant. Authorities are determining if they were used to kill the two brothers and their friend.
The trio of tourists were stranded at the rental property due to car trouble and were forced to extend their stay on Saturday. One other individual who was staying at the property with the group had already left the day before, the sheriff added.
It’s not immediately clear what the tourists were doing in the area or how long they had been staying at the property.
Blackmon described Bojeh as a troubled resident who was a ‘frequent flyer to the sheriff’s office.’
Bojeh was previously arrested in May 2021 after ‘randomly’ firing at a Wawa gas station and convenience store, with shots fired into random cars, injuring one man who survived.
Although Bojeh faced multiple charges, he was ‘acquitted by reason of insanity’ when the case went to trial the following year according to WESH.
Bojeh’s criminal history includes mostly small, non-violent crimes and drug arrests in Osceola and Orange counties, with nothing indicating a motive for a triple murder.
Prior mental health treatment
Records show Bojeh had received mental health treatment at a local facility and held a job during that time, he was still the subject of frequent deputy calls to the Indian Hill neighborhood.
‘It was disturbing the peace kind of stuff,’ Blackmon said. ‘He was known to the Sheriff’s Department.’
‘As of right now, we have nothing. Just looks like a random, but again, the investigation, you know, it’s ongoing. It’s fresh, it’s new. We’re just a little bit over 24 hours into it, so we’re trying to gather the facts,’ Blackmon said of the investigation.
Kissimmee is a bustling neighborhood full of rental properties and golf courses, situated just a half-hour drive from Disney World.
Bojeh remains held without bond at the Osceola County Jail.
