Two men who escaped from a work detail while assigned to the Mississippi Department of Corrections’ Hinds County Restitution Center, face charges of car jacking and attempted murder in the shooting of a Vicksburg man and the theft of his car.

Vicksburg police Capt. Sandra Williams said Tuesday morning two police investigators were on their way to Las Cruces, N. M. to question and arrest Christopher Dalton Brown, 25, and Christopher Livingston, 23, who escaped from the work detail in early March. She said the officers have warrants for the men’s arrest charging them with attempted murder and carjacking.

The pair is accused of shooting Vicksburg resident John Thomas and taking his 2014 Honda Accord. Thomas was found lying in the parking lot of Blackburn Motors on North Frontage Road by a police officer on patrol in the area. He is in critical condition at University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.

According to a press release from the Mississippi Department of Corrections, Brown and Livingston were arrested Saturday in Las Cruces and being held at the Dona Ana County Detention Center on fugitive warrants. They appeared in court there Monday.

Livingston was caught following a foot pursuit after he jumped out of a 2014 Honda Accord, according to information from the sheriff’s department. A check of the vehicle revealed it had been stolen in Vicksburg from Thomas. An officer with the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Department had attempted to stop the vehicle for not having a license plate.

“This is a classic example of the danger facing law enforcement officers 24/7, and drives home the importance of citizens reporting fugitives when we make this information public,” MDOC Commissioner Marshall Fisher said. “We have received nearly 70,000 hits on our Facebook page from a post about these two offenders.”

Brown and Livingston were both convicted in Warren County.

Brown was convicted of felony shoplifting in 2014, and received five years’ probation.

Livingston was convicted of malicious mischief in 2015 and was sentenced to two years with three years’ probation.

When arrested Saturday, Livingston initially gave authorities another name.

An investigation revealed his true name, according to the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Department.

He is charged in New Mexico with resisting or obstructing, concealing identity, possession of methamphetamine, possession of paraphernalia and receiving/transfer of a stolen vehicle.

Brown, who faces no charges in New Mexico from his arrest, waived extradition.