At a Glance
- Three friends-two of them brothers-were gunned down outside their Airbnb after attending the Mecum Car Show in Kissimmee, Florida.
- The suspect, 29-year-old Ahmad Jihad Bojeh, was arrested on site and charged with three counts of murder.
- Bojeh had been found not guilty by reason of insanity in a 2022 attempted-murder case and was released in December that year under court-ordered mental-health supervision.
- Why it matters: The shootings raise fresh questions about how Florida monitors defendants deemed mentally ill and barred from owning guns.
A weekend trip to one of the country’s largest collector-car auctions ended in bloodshed when three Midwestern visitors were shot to death outside the short-term rental they had called home base for the Mecum Car Show in Kissimmee, Florida.
Deputies discovered the bodies of Douglas Kraft, Robert Kraft and James Puchan shortly after responding to the Indian Point subdivision on Saturday, Jan. 17, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement released that evening.
Victims in Town for Mecum Car Show
Douglas Kraft, of Columbus, Ohio; his brother Robert Kraft, of Holland, Michigan; and their friend James Puchan, of Galena, Ohio, had traveled to central Florida for the annual auction that draws thousands of classic-car enthusiasts each January.
The trio booked an Airbnb near Kissimmee and spent the week browsing vintage vehicles, according to a joint family statement posted Monday, Jan. 19. Mechanical problems with their own car delayed their departure, forcing them to extend the stay while they arranged repairs.
Random Attack, Family Says
As the men waited for roadside assistance, “they were being observed from a distance by an unknown individual who was well-known to local law enforcement,” relatives wrote. “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.”
Deputies arrived to find all three victims dead from apparent gunshot wounds. A 29-year-old man found near the scene was detained without incident.
Suspect Had Prior Attempted-Murder Arrest
The Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as Ahmad Jihad Bojeh, who lives in the same subdivision. He was booked into the Osceola County Jail on three counts of murder. It is unclear whether he has entered a plea or retained counsel.
Court records reviewed by Spectrum News show Bojeh was arrested in 2022 on an attempted-murder charge. A judge later found him not guilty by reason of insanity and committed him to a state treatment facility. In December 2022 he was released under strict conditions that included:
- Continued mental-health counseling
- A lifetime ban on possessing firearms
- No contact with the 2022 victim
A compliance check filed in March 2024 indicated Bojeh had met all court requirements up to that point, according to the same records.
Weapons Recovered Nearby
Detectives executed a search warrant at Bojeh’s home and recovered two firearms, NBC 4 reported. Investigators have not confirmed whether either weapon was used in the triple homicide, and ballistic results remain pending.
Sheriff Christopher Blackmon sought to reassure residents, saying, “There is no threat to the community, as the suspect responsible for these horrific and senseless murders has been apprehended by Osceola County deputies.”
Families Mourn Sudden Loss
Relatives described the victims as lifelong friends who shared a passion for classic automobiles.
“These three wonderful men did not deserve this,” the families wrote. “Our families are left with an unexpected, unimaginable loss that cannot be put into words. We ask for privacy, prayers, and respect as we mourn and begin to process this tragedy.”
Key Takeaways
- The shooting occurred in a quiet residential area popular with vacation renters, underscoring the random nature of the attack.
- Bojeh’s 2022 insanity finding and subsequent release are likely to fuel debate over monitoring protocols for defendants judged mentally ill.
- Detectives have not disclosed a motive, and the Sheriff’s Office says the investigation remains active.
