RANKIN COUNTY, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
The Mississippi Highway Patrol and the Rankin County District Attorney's office are leading the investigation into Sunday's pursuit, that led to the death of a Brandon woman.
The high-speed chase began in Ridgeland and ended in Flowood.
A Jackson man and Ripley woman face a variety of charges.
It ended at the intersection of Grants Ferry Road and Highway 25.
Ridgeland Police say they were trying to arrest Robert Williams of Jackson and Melinda Renae Rutherford of Ripley after the two were caught shoplifting.
Ridgeland Chief Jimmy Houston says the two stole two grocery carts full of food, from the Kroger store on Old Canton and Lake Harbor Drive.
Officers say Williams, a convicted felon from Mississippi and Georgia, tried to strike a Ridgeland officer with the 1999 Mercury Grand Marquis he was driving.
The pair fled and led law enforcement on a pursuit across the Ross Barnett Reservoir spillway into Rankin County and Grants Ferry Road, where the Mercury crashed into a car, killing the car's driver.
The victim, 37-year-old Milinda Clark.
Clark; the mother of two, was on her way to pick them up from Sunday school, when she was killed.
Williams and Rutherford were taken to a Jackson hospital.
When they are released from the hospital, Williams will be taken to the Rankin County Jail and charged with numerous felonies, including felony fleeing that resulted in the death of another and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.
"There's one thing every law enforcement officer hates, and that is a police chase," said Chief Johnny Dewitt. "We wish there was some magic button to push to stop it, unfortunately this is the most tragic end you can have. You have a great person the county who lost their life cause this guy decided he didn't want to go to jail today."
Rutherford will be taken to the Ridgeland Police Department to face charges.
Copyright 2012 WLBT. All rights reserved.
Also on WLBT.com:
Pursuit leads to woman's death
WLBT 3 - Fox 40
