By Shawn Henry 
Two men from Kissimmee were arrested following an alleged armed carjacking that occurred during a vehicle test drive in Osceola County earlier this month, authorities said.
According to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the incident took place Dec. 16 after a 21-year-old man arranged to sell his BMW through a Facebook Marketplace listing. Investigators said the victim met the two suspects at the intersection of Cobblestone Circle and Cobblers Lane to complete the transaction.
Authorities said the suspects and the seller entered the BMW and went on a test drive as part of the sale. When the drive ended, the situation escalated. Investigators allege that one of the suspects produced a handgun and ordered the victim out of the vehicle. The victim complied, and the suspects fled the scene.
Officials said one suspect drove away in the stolen BMW while the second suspect followed in a Honda Accord. Deputies quickly launched a search for the stolen vehicle, using both ground units and the county’s aviation resources to assist in locating the suspects.
With help from the sheriff’s office helicopter, deputies spotted the BMW a short time later. Authorities said one suspect attempted to run through traffic after abandoning the vehicle but was apprehended nearby. Deputies later located and arrested the second suspect, who was found in possession of a Glock handgun concealed in his pants, according to investigators.
The suspects were identified as 18-year-old Josiah Ford and 20-year-old Jamarri Howard. Both face charges including carjacking with a deadly weapon, along with additional offenses related to the incident.
No injuries were reported in the carjacking, and the stolen BMW was recovered. The investigation remains active as authorities continue to review evidence connected to the case.
In a reminder following the arrests, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office encouraged residents conducting online sales to use designated Safe Exchange Zones. These locations are monitored and intended to provide a secure environment for transactions arranged through social media platforms.
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