Osceola County, FL – Two men from Kissimmee, Florida, were arrested after a routine Facebook Marketplace sale escalated into a dangerous armed carjacking, according to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.
Sale Leads to Test Drive Turned Crime
The incident occurred Tuesday at 4 p.m. when a 21-year-old man arranged to meet two buyers who responded to his Facebook Marketplace ad to sell his grey BMW 5 Series. The meetup took place near Cobblestone Circle and Cobblers Lane, deputies said.
During the meeting, the victim and the two suspects took the BMW for a test drive. Upon returning, one suspect allegedly pulled a gun and ordered the victim to exit the vehicle. The suspect then drove away in the stolen BMW, while the second suspect left in a Honda Accord they had arrived in.
Deputies Track Vehicles Using Helicopter
The victim quickly called 911, prompting a swift response from the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies located both vehicles with assistance from a sheriff’s office helicopter.
The driver of the BMW fled on foot but was captured and arrested shortly after. Meanwhile, deputies spotted the Honda Accord and conducted a traffic stop, leading to the arrest of the second suspect, who was found to be carrying a Glock handgun.
Suspects Identified and Charged
Authorities identified the suspects as:
- Jamarri Marquis Howard, 20, of Kissimmee
- Josiah Jermaine Ford, also of Kissimmee
Howard was booked on multiple charges, including:
- Carjacking with a deadly weapon
- Aggravated battery with a deadly weapon
- Resisting arrest without violence
Ford was arrested for carjacking with a deadly weapon.
The sheriff’s office also released video footage of the chase and arrests, emphasizing the rapid and coordinated response by deputies that led to the suspects’ apprehension.
Law Enforcement Statement
Deputies encouraged the public to exercise caution when meeting strangers for private sales and recommended using well-populated, public locations for transactions whenever possible. They also highlighted the value of reporting suspicious behavior immediately.
Do you feel safe using online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace for buying and selling vehicles? What precautions would you take to avoid situations like this? Share your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation.
