God was looking out for a Pike County pastor and now jailers are looking after two alleged gang members who attempted to rob him, steal his truck, and shoot at him.

A release from the Pike County Sheriff’s Department said the pastor came home to his house on Summit-Holmesville Road when he found two men inside his home, armed with guns. They were allegedly trying to rob him, but when they couldn’t, police say they tried to steal his truck to escape.

They ended up getting the truck stuck.

During this time, the pastor ran to call for help and the suspects started shooting at him. He was able to escape unharmed and the suspects ran into the woods on foot.

Police responded to search for the suspects. As they were on the scene, a white Ford F-250 with four people in it pulled a U-turn in the roadway when the driver saw deputies, so the deputies chased them. The high-speed chase led to Garner Cemetery Road in Walthall County, officials said.

When the truck crashed, the suspects all fled the scene, and all of them had guns.

Pike County Sheriff’s Office Deputies, Walthall County Sheriff’s Office Deputies and the Mississippi Highway Patrol surrounded the area and were able to take two of the suspects into custody, along with three guns.

Lakeviae “Bangman” James and Sedale Payton, both of Tylertown, were arrested. The other two suspects from the truck, which turned out to be stolen and carrying switched plates, escaped.

The suspects are active members in a non-recognized hybrid street gang known as DOA (Dead on Arrival).

Anyone with any information on this crime or any other please call Central Dispatch at 601-783-2323, Pike County Sheriff’s Office at 601-783-6767, or Crime Stoppers at 601-869-7141.