Executive Summary
- Two suspects were arrested following an armed carjacking in Osceola County on December 16.
- The incident occurred during a test drive arranged via a Facebook Marketplace advertisement.
- The Sheriff’s Office aviation unit tracked the stolen BMW, leading to the apprehension of Josiah Ford and Jamarri Howard.
- Authorities recovered a firearm and have charged the men with carjacking with a deadly weapon.
Two men have been arrested in Osceola County, Florida, after allegedly carjacking a BMW at gunpoint during a test drive arranged through a social media advertisement, according to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators report that the incident occurred on December 16, when a 21-year-old victim met two individuals at the intersection of Cobblestone Circle and Cobblers Lane to sell his vehicle, which he had listed on Facebook Marketplace. Authorities stated that the victim accompanied the suspects on a test drive of the BMW.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, when the test drive concluded, one of the suspects brandished a firearm and ordered the victim out of the vehicle. One suspect reportedly fled in the stolen BMW, while the other departed in a Honda Accord, the vehicle used to arrive at the meeting location.
Deputies utilized the agency’s aviation unit, known as STAR, to track the stolen vehicle to a 7-Eleven convenience store. Operational footage captured deputies communicating the suspects’ location as they attempted to flee. Although the suspects ran through traffic on foot, both were quickly apprehended. Authorities noted that a Glock handgun was recovered from the pants of one suspect.
The suspects have been identified as 18-year-old Josiah Ford and 20-year-old Jamarri Howard, both residents of Kissimmee. They face multiple charges, including carjacking with a deadly weapon.
Public Safety Impact
This incident highlights the inherent risks associated with private party transactions arranged through online platforms. In response to the carjacking, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office has reiterated the importance of utilizing designated “Safe Exchange Zones” located at law enforcement facilities to ensure secure transactions for buyers and sellers. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
