On Tuesday, members of the Richland Police Department received information and were looking for a stolen vehicle that contained two small, kidnapped children when they encountered a second stolen vehicle on Highway 49 North.

Around the same time, deputies with the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office located the initial stolen vehicle abandoned on Highway 49 North.

“By the grace of God, the two children were found inside of the abandoned vehicle, unharmed,” said Richland Police Chief Nick McClendon.

Officers pursued the second stolen vehicle through Richland and into Jackson. The suspect crashed the stolen vehicle on Highway 80 near Gallatin St. Three males fled the vehicle, of which two of the suspects were armed with handguns.

Within minutes of the crash, all three suspects were taken into custody and transported back to the Richland Police Department for booking.

A search of the vehicle revealed a fully automatic rifle on the passenger’s seat along with narcotics. Through further investigations, investigators were able to confirm this vehicle and occupants were involved in the prior initial motor vehicle theft and kidnapping in Mendenhall.

“I would like to thank members of the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office, Mississippi Highway Patrol, Capitol Police, Jackson Police, Pearl Police and Flowood Police Departments for their assistance in capturing three violent criminals and ending their reign of terror in Simpson, Rankin, and Lincoln Counties,” McClendon said.

Zikavian Robinson, 18, of Crystal Springs and two juveniles were arrested on multiple felony charges with additional charges pending in other jurisdictions.