Vicksburg and Warren County are blessed to have two highly qualified law enforcement agencies committed to keeping the public safe.

That could not have been more evident than the events that unfolded Monday night when two armed robbers in the midst of a three-state crime spree brought their chaos to the River City.

Warren County Sheriff’s deputies were aware Sharae Dominique Threadgill, 21, of Columbus, Georgia, and Jalen Sean Benton, 18, of Ellerslie, Georgia, were possibly headed towards Vicksburg on Interstate 20 after a bulletin was issued to law enforcement that the pair were wanted for a string of robberies and attempted fast-food restaurant robberies from Alabama to Meridian and Brandon.

Sheriff’s deputy Dustin Keyes took a position on I-20 near Bovina, and about 10 p.m. saw a car matching the description of the vehicle in the bulletin drive by at a high rate of speed.

Keyes attempted to make a traffic stop on the vehicle and was fired upon as the pair exited their car and ran off on foot.

The duo then carjacked a mother and daughter in their vehicle that was parked at a nearby Sonic Drive-In, forcing one of the victims at gun point to drive north on U.S. 61. The pursuit by deputies and Sheriff Martin Pace went through several areas eventually to Drummon and Bowmar Avenue where the hostage behind the wheel slammed on the brakes and she and the other hostage jumped from the SUV to safety, suffering minor injuries.

“These are some dangerous people,” Pace said. “I firmly believe the hostage driver made a lifesaving/life preserving decision when she chose to end the period where she was driving.”

Deputies shot out one of the tires on the SUV, which eventually ran out of gas and the duo were taken into custody without incident.

Both are facing multiple charges, including the killing of a Georgia man in what is believed to be a failed armed robberty attempt at an apartment complex.

This dangerous incident could have had a much deadlier outcome if not for the heroic efforts of the law enforcment agencies that included the Mississippi Highway Patrol and the Vicksburg Police Department responding a taking action to end the chase and bring the pair to justice.

Thank you officers for keeping our community safe on a daily basis.