By Fallan Patterson
Staff Writer

Police arrested a Kissimmee juvenile Monday night in connection with the shooting death of Rashan Hasaun Ortiz early Sunday morning at an annual graduation block party on Ginwright Street in north Kissimmee.

Joshua Harris, 17, is being held at the Osceola County Juvenile Detention Center today after he was found in the area of Americana Boulevard and Texas Avenue in Orange County by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force. Harris, a Kissimmee resident, is being charged with murder and attempted murder.

Ortiz, 22, a 2007 Osceola High School graduate and athlete, died at the hospital Sunday of his gunshot wound after partying in the area of Ginwright and Smith streets, in an area known as McLaren Circle.

According to police, Harris targeted Ortiz due to a long-standing feud.

“They're two people who just did not like each other,” Kissimmee Police Department spokeswoman Stacie Miller said. “This wasn't gang-related.”

Derek Daniles, 26, Alana Brown, 42, and Tanya Price, 34, were all in stable condition and recovering Monday at local hospitals after also being shot, according to Miller.

Harris is not cooperating with detectives, Miller said, and officers are still trying to determine where the juvenile got the gun; where the weapon is now; if he was assisted and how. Additional charges against Harris and other arrests are possible, Miller said.

The State Attorney's Office has not decided whether to charge Harris as adult, spokesperson Danielle Tavernier said. The office has 21 days from the arresting date to make the decision, she added.

Four families traditionally host the graduation party, which Miller estimated was attended by more than 500 people this year. The families notified police Friday in advance of the party.

“We knew about this party,” Miller said “We've never had problems with this party before.”

The party was posted on Facebook as a public event, meaning anyone had access to the details of the event; 399 people had confirmed their attendance.

“Vibe with us for a few and if you bring drama, they got a place for you,” the party's invitation stated.

In anticipation of the large turnout and as a precaution, four marked police cruisers sat a block away from the party, Miller said.

As an undisclosed number of shots rang out at 2:40 a.m., KPD officers pushed their way through throngs of panicked people who just moments before had been dancing, talking and drinking. Officers from the Osceola County Sheriff's Office and St. Cloud Police Department aided with crowd control after Kissimmee police called for assistance, Miller said.

KPD officers were unaware of any tension in the crowd before the shots were fired, according to Miller.

“Everybody seemed like they were having a good time,” she said. “There was no fight or anything.”

Upon arrival, police officers found two critical patients. Both were transported to local hospitals, where additional victims were also sent.

Ortiz's death affected hundreds of people as the outpouring of support manifested itself on his Facebook profile in the hours and days since the shooting.

“I've had chills down my back for the entire day. I'm still in astonishment that you are gone. You had so much set for yourself, and one fool had to take that away. May your soul rest in peace,” wrote Beecher G. Dort on Ortiz's Facebook, which is listed under the name “Redteam Hott.”

Ortiz was a starting defensive back and running back his senior year for the Kowboys, making 41 tackles and scoring six touchdowns. He also ran track.

Ortiz, according to his Facebook profile, was attending El Camino College in Torrance, Calif., where he played running back for the Warriors in the 2009 season.

Ortiz posted a comment himself on Facebook Saturday, saying he was cleaning his house in anticipation of the party, then heading to the mall. Known as Hasaun, he had just turned 22 on May 23.

Miller stressed the smallest comment from the public can assist with a case.

“It may be that little tidbit of information that people think is unimportant that could be the most important piece of the puzzle,” she said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Major Crimes Unit at 407-846-3333 or by e-mail at seeitsayit@kissimmee.org or call Crimeline at 1-800-432-TIPS (8477).