Three tourists who traveled to Central Florida for the Mecum Car Show were allegedly stalked and fatally shot while waiting for a replacement rental car, authorities and the victims' families said. The suspect, 29-year-old Ahmad Jihad Bojeh, who lived next door, was detained nearby, found with two firearms and charged with three counts of first-degree murder. Bojeh's prior 2021 case — in which he was later found not guilty by reason of insanity — has prompted calls from Florida officials to review the insanity defense; investigators continue to examine the evidence.
Neighbor Allegedly Stalked and Fatally Shot Three Tourists Near Disney; Suspect Charged With Murder
The victims were identified as Robert Luis Kraft, 70, of Holland, Michigan; his brother Douglas Joseph Kraft, 68, of Columbus, Ohio; and James John Puchan, 69, also of Columbus.(Fox News)
Three men visiting Central Florida for the Mecum Car Show were allegedly stalked and fatally shot while waiting for a replacement rental car, their families and law enforcement said. Deputies found the victims outside a rental property in the Indian Point subdivision after multiple 911 calls about shots fired.
Victims
The victims were identified as Robert Luis Kraft, 70, of Holland, Michigan; his brother Douglas Joseph Kraft, 68, of Columbus, Ohio; and James John Puchan, 69, of Columbus. The men had traveled to the area to attend the Mecum Car Show and were staying at an Airbnb.
Ahmad Jihad Bojeh, 29, was booked into the Osceola County Jail on three counts of premeditated murder.
Suspect And Allegations
Authorities named 29-year-old Ahmad Jihad Bojeh — who lived next door to the rental property — as the suspect. Deputies say they saw Bojeh flee to his residence shortly after the shooting, detained him there and recovered two firearms. He has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder and was denied bond at his first court appearance.
Prior Encounters With Law Enforcement
Court records show Bojeh had multiple prior encounters with law enforcement, including a 2021 case in which he was charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery after allegedly firing at a person and at random vehicles in a Kissimmee gas station parking lot. Records indicate he was later found not guilty by reason of insanity in that earlier case. Additional records list prior arrests for felony drug possession and resisting an officer without violence.
Bojeh was arrested in connection with a previous shooting incident in 2021, but was later "acquitted by reason of insanity," according to court records obtained by WKMG-TV.
Official Reactions And Investigation
Relatives described the killings as random and senseless. In a joint family statement, they said:
'There were no known interactions between the men and this individual prior to the event; they were then approached and senselessly murdered. This was a random, tragic act.'
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier criticized the application of the insanity defense and urged the Legislature to consider changes so that violent offenders remain confined in prison or appropriate mental-health facilities. Osceola County Sheriff Christopher Blackmon said investigators believe there is no ongoing threat to the community because the suspect has been arrested, and the probe into whether the recovered weapons were used in the killings remains active.
The investigation is ongoing. Authorities ask anyone with information to contact the Osceola County Sheriff's Office.
Help us improve.
