A 19-year-old Kissimmee man was jailed without bond as deputies prepared a weekend enforcement push.
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Osceola County deputies announced new arrests Thursday after investigators said illegal parties at vacation rentals were tied to two teen shooting deaths and a separate shooting that wounded a 17-year-old.
Sheriff Christopher Blackmon said the county is increasing enforcement before Rolling Loud, a major music festival expected to draw crowds to Central Florida. He said promoters have used short-term rental homes on the county’s west side to hold large gatherings without permission, creating safety problems for neighbors, guests and deputies.
Authorities said Jeremiah Kelly-Alexander Richmond, 19, of Kissimmee, was arrested Wednesday by the sheriff’s fugitive unit and U.S. Marshals on an outstanding warrant. Investigators said Richmond promoted and ran two illegal parties this year where two teenagers were shot and killed. He was booked into the Osceola County Jail with no bond. Blackmon said the pattern has become serious enough to require a larger response. “If you’ve got a party, expect to see the blue lights,” he said during a Thursday briefing.
The sheriff’s office also described a separate case from May 3 on Thunderbird Road in the ChampionsGate and Four Corners area. Deputies said a large party was reported at a rental home shortly after 5:20 p.m. As a deputy spoke with private security officers outside, a gunshot was heard from inside the house. People ran from the home, and deputies moved in to secure the scene. A 17-year-old later arrived at Orlando Health Hospital in Davenport with a gunshot wound to the leg.
Detectives said the shooting happened upstairs, but the injured teen did not cooperate with investigators. Deputies said alcohol and a firearm were found at the home. Katty Francois and Neika St. Louis, both 18 and from Orlando, were arrested after witness interviews. Authorities said they face misdemeanor charges tied to promoting and running an open house party and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Robert David White, 19, of Orlando, was also arrested after deputies said a backpack he carried contained a handgun and prepackaged marijuana.
Blackmon said about 80 Florida Highway Patrol troopers will join Osceola County deputies for the weekend operation. The focus will be on rental homes where organizers advertise parties online, collect money or allow underage drinking. Deputies said illegal parties have also been linked to sexual battery investigations this year. The sheriff’s office did not release the names of the two teens killed in the earlier party shootings or give full details about the pending cases.
The arrests mark the latest step in a broader effort to control short-term rental gatherings in fast-growing parts of southwest Osceola County. The area includes vacation homes near major roads, resorts and theme-park traffic. Residents have complained in recent years about noise, parking problems and large crowds at rentals. Deputies said the danger has grown beyond nuisance calls when guns, alcohol and minors are involved.
Richmond remained held without bond Thursday. Francois, St. Louis and White were booked in the Thunderbird Road case, and detectives said that investigation remains active. Authorities said more patrols and traffic stops are expected through the festival weekend as deputies look for promoted parties before they grow into large gatherings.
The sheriff’s office said the next milestone will be the weekend enforcement operation tied to Rolling Loud. Detectives also are continuing to review witness statements, social media posts and evidence from the rental-house cases.
Author note: Last updated May 7, 2026.