You can take Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace seriously when he said the conclusion of accused killer Rafael McCloud’s escape from his jail isn’t the one he wanted.

Pace wanted McCloud apprehended in order to stand trial before a Warren County jury. But, as Pace pointed out Thursday morning after McCloud’s identity was confirmed as the dead assailant who held a young Vicksburg couple hostage in their home before one of them broke free, got a gun and shot him dead, McCloud chose his own fate.

Pace and his deputies, assisted by Vicksburg Police officers and those from a number of different agencies, have worked non-stop since March 2 to locate McCloud and bring him to justice.

The events of Thursday are nothing for anyone to celebrate. However, we hope the Vicksburg community, which has been on edge since this ordeal began in the early morning of March 2, can sleep a little easier tonight.

Mostly we hope the young family who was terrorized by McCloud and had the courage to fight back, can find peace of mind quickly.

We encourage this community to rally around this family, support them in any way needed and show them we care about them and their future. What they experienced is not in any way typical of the Vicksburg community.

The Justice for Sharen Wilson GoFundMe page has reopened, the aim of which is to give the reward money to this young family. If you can afford to contribute, please do. They deserve that money, whether they use it to pay medical bills or pay for counseling or help fund their young child’s education.

We also strong urge law enforcement officials here to doggedly pursue those who may have assisted McCloud while he was on the lam. Those who helped to hide him, clothe him, feed him or who provided any assistance at all to him while he fled justice are equally responsible as he is for the horrible situation that unfolded in that home on Fort Hill Drive Thursday.

Anyone, family or otherwise, who assisted McCloud should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.