Two suspects are in custody and a third remains at-large following a Tuesday morning carjacking and attempted home invasion near Register.

According to a release from the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office, the incident originated in Statesboro as a carjacking and kidnapping case.

During a press conference Wednesday morning at the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office, Statesboro Police Department Capt. Jared Akins said the victim, who is from Statesboro, was specifically targeted by the suspects.

“The carjacked victim was targeted,” Akins said. “He was very specifically the person they wanted.”

However, at the same time, Akins said: “There's nothing in the investigation at this time that suggests that (the victim) personally had knowledge of the (suspects) one-on-one. It appears to be a situation where they took him by force from the city out into the county without necessarily having a personal relationship with him.”

During the carjacking, the victim was placed in the backseat of his own vehicle in restraints while two suspects drove him toward Register.

At least one additional suspect drove a second vehicle, which was stolen from the Atlanta area, the release stated. The suspects then drove to Holloway Lane, just outside of Register, and approached a residence in an attempt to commit a home invasion.

The residents were able to retreat into another room in the house and call 911 at about 3 a.m.

At the Wednesday press conference, Capt. Todd Hutchens with the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office said they don’t know why the victim was taken to the home just outside Register or why that home was targeted.

“That’s part of the investigation,” he said.

While responding to the call, deputies encountered two vehicles. The driver of the first vehicle appeared to be wearing some sort of mask, and deputies attempted to stop both vehicles.

After the first vehicle crashed in Register, Cpl. Tanner White attempted to arrest the driver, who physically fought with White.

White, assisted by other deputies, was able to arrest the driver, but a passenger crawled out of the wrecked vehicle and escaped, the release stated.

The carjacking victim was found on the backseat and freed from his restraints.

The arrested driver was subsequently identified as Joshua Parrish.

The second vehicle was pursued to Wolf Pen Lane by deputies. After the vehicle came to a final stop, at least one suspect fled the area on foot. Multiple deputies arrived and began searching for the suspects.

They were assisted by the Georgia State Patrol, the Department of Natural Resources and the Statesboro Police Department.

Shortly before noon, a local homeowner had contact with a suspect near where the second vehicle was located. The homeowner said he was aware of the incident thanks to public alerts sent out by law enforcement and the media, according to the release.

The homeowner was able to detain this subject, who was later identified as Michael McCullum.

Authorities are still searching for the third suspect.

“We have stepped up patrols in the area in both marked an unmarked vehicles to look for the suspect,” Sheriff Noel Brown said. “I would urge resident to remain vigilant and lock there doors and their vehicles.

Both Parrish and McCullum will be charged with multiple offenses related to the kidnapping and carjacking. Parrish listed an Atlanta address, while McCullum is from Carrollton. The Statesboro Police Department and the Bulloch County Sheriff's Office are jointly investigating the incident.

"The victim in this case was fortunate that deputies were able to locate and stop the vehicle he was being held in," Brown said. "I would also like to thank all the other agencies who responded to assist in this incident."

This case is under active investigation. Anyone with additional information is asked to call Lt. Walter Deal at the Bulloch County Sheriff's Office or Detective Ben Purvis with the Statesboro Police Department.

Photos from scene

About 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, the Sheriff’s Office released a series of five photos taken off the camera from the front door of what is, presumably, the victim’s home. In the photos, the suspects are all wearing dark clothing and masks. Two appear to be carrying handguns. The victim is wearing blue shorts, but his body and face are draped in a white sheet and a blue blanket with white stripes.

In the final released photo, one of the suspects is looking directly at the camera, with his eyes visible through the mask. He and another suspect appear to be taking the victim up the stairs to the front door.

Morning alert

Tuesday morning’s alert stated the suspects were fleeing law enforcement on foot in two areas of Bulloch County Tuesday morning:
* Wolf Pen Lane at Cypress Lake Road
* City of Register
The alert urged residents living in those areas to:
- Lock your home doors.
- Secure your vehicles.
- Be aware of your surroundings.
- Do not approach or attempt to confront any suspects.
If you see anyone suspicious, call 911 immediately.
The alert requested the public avoid the above areas and allow law enforcement to work safely.