Bond set for 3 teens accused in crime spree

Published 11:25 am Thursday, January 12, 2012

Bond has been set for three Vicksburg teens accused of leading police and deputies on a 1 1/2-hour chase Tuesday morning after an overnight spree of armed robberies, burglary and attempted burglary, police Capt. Bobby Stewart said.

Rashann Thomas, 19, 2702 Jeanette St., and Justin Ransom and his twin sister, Jessica Ransom, 17, both of 2200 Marshal St., appeared in Vicksburg Municipal Court Wednesday afternoon.

Judge Nancy Thomas set bond at $400,000 each for Rashann Thomas and Jessica Ransom, and at $450,000 for Justin Ransom, Stewart said.

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Each was charged Tuesday with three counts of armed robbery, one count of burglary and one count of attempted burglary.

In addition, Justin Ransom was charged with felony eluding.

The three began what police Chief Walter Amstrong called a “crime spree” at 11:20 p.m. Monday, when investigators believe they threw a brick through the front window of the Speedway convenience store, 3600 Washington St., and took chips and costume jewelry. Then, at 12:50 a.m. Tuesday, police said, they attempted to break a window at Zips, 887 U.S. 61 North.

At 1:40 a.m., police said, the teens used a gun to rob a clerk at Murphy Express, 4103 Pemberton Square Blvd., and about 25 minutes later, robbed at gunpoint a clerk at Walgreens, 3341 Halls Ferry Road, and an unnamed person inside the store, police said.

Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace said the Ransoms and Thomas also are believed to be responsible for a smash and grab burglary at 1:11 a.m. at Oak Park Bestway, Indiana Avenue and Lee Road, but they have not been charged with the crime.

Following an extended chase that began near Walgreens, Rashann Thomas was picked up on foot in the Vicksburg National Military Park by a park ranger. Jessica Ransom was arrested by Vicksburg police while walking near Bowmar Avenue and Jeannette Street, and Justin Ransom was nabbed after he crashed his car into an embankment in the 1900 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, police said.

The three remained in the Warren County Jail this morning.