Arrests in two counties follow a two-week investigation near the ChampionsGate short-term rental hub.
DAVENPORT, Fla. — Osceola County deputies say five men are accused of storming a short-term rental on Nov. 5, forcing a teenage girl inside at gunpoint and trading shots with people staying at the home before fleeing. Investigators recovered shell casings and found extensive damage in the Leader Street house.
The arrests matter for a neighborhood that draws thousands of visitors each month and has seen a rise in short-term rental calls to law enforcement. Detectives captured two suspects the night of the break-in and tracked three more into Orange County with help from partner agencies. Sheriff Christopher Blackmon said his office has boosted patrols in the ChampionsGate area while detectives examine possible ties to other recent home invasions reported nearby.
Deputies said the confrontation began when masked men dressed in black approached a juvenile girl outside the vacation home and forced her back inside at gunpoint. Property, including the teen’s phone and keys, was taken during the encounter. Inside the rental, gunfire erupted between the intruders and some guests, according to the sheriff’s office. Everyone scattered. When deputies entered, they documented bullet holes in multiple walls, a shattered rear sliding glass door and a mix of pistol and rifle casings spread across several rooms and the patio.
Two suspects — identified as 21-year-old Devante Elijah Joseph and 20-year-old Markel Ja’Marion Bailey — were arrested near the scene that night after the victim identified them, deputies said. Over the next two weeks, detectives developed leads and executed searches that led to three more arrests in Orange County: 22-year-old Alvan Dimy Civil; 20-year-old Jaiquan Darius Hill; and 20-year-old Ronnall Marayne Jr. Officials said guests inside the rental knew of the suspects, giving investigators critical names and connections to pursue.
Booking records show Joseph and Bailey face counts that include aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, shooting into an occupied dwelling, grand theft, armed robbery with a firearm and criminal mischief. Civil, Hill and Marayne were booked in Orange County this week; full charging documents were not immediately released. The home’s address is listed as 988 Leader St., within a sprawling subdivision marketed to short-term visitors. Sheriff Blackmon called the episode “like an old, wild West shootout” and said he was grateful no one was hit by bullets despite the damage inside.
Short-term rentals have multiplied along the county line in recent years, adding traffic — and calls for service — to a corridor of new subdivisions, clubhouses and vacation villas. Deputies said their crime analysts flagged a recent cluster of home-invasion calls near ChampionsGate. Detectives are now comparing shell casings, vehicle descriptions and digital records from seized phones to see whether the same group may be connected to other crimes reported in the area this month.
Joseph and Bailey remained in the Osceola County Jail awaiting first appearance dates. Civil, Hill and Marayne were in the Orange County Jail pending transfer decisions and case filings. Detectives said additional arrest affidavits and search-warrant returns would be forwarded to prosecutors in the coming days. Officials do not believe additional suspects are outstanding but described the investigation as active, with potential charges subject to change as evidence is processed.
On Thursday morning, plywood covered the damaged doorway and crews were assessing interior repairs, investigators said. A neighbor, who asked not to be named, described hearing “pops” before sirens rushed into the subdivision. Sheriff Blackmon said deputies would keep an elevated presence in the area through the weekend as detectives conduct follow-up interviews and finalize reports.
As of Thursday, five suspects were in custody and ballistics testing was underway. Investigators expect to announce case-filing decisions and initial hearing dates early next week.
Author note: Last updated November 28, 2025.