Five people are in custody and at least one other sought after a rash of car break-ins thought to be gang-related turned violent when several suspects shot at a neighbor who confronted them.

The six suspects – including three juveniles – are believed to be part of a larger group. They went on a crime spree Jul 23 that spanned several jurisdictions, said Etowah County Sheriff Jonathon Horton.

Authorities said the accused thieves rummaged through unlocked cars, stealing money, guns and even a Bible. The thefts had been going on for about two weeks and Gadsden alone had 30 to 40 car burglaries during that time.

The unmarked car of Jacksonville State University’s campus police chief was among those hit.

Authorities said the female suspects acted as lookouts for the males carrying out the alleged crimes.

At about 9 p.m. on July 23, a resident on Stewart Avenue in the Camp Sibert neighborhood of Attalla was sitting in his open garage when he saw a white Ford Explorer go by with its lights turned off, said Attalla police Chief Dennis Walker.

Knowing about the break-ins in the area, the neighbor decided to follow the Explorer on his ATV.

He surprised the group as they were breaking into a car nearby, and he tried to block them in, Walker said. The suspects went around him, and he continued to follow them.

At that point, the occupants of the car start shooting at the resident, striking his ATV.

The resident jumped off, took cover behind a tree, and avoided injury. He called police with a description of the driver and a partial license plate number.

Police said the stealing continued, with several residents calling 911. The suspected group stopped at one house and a Chevy Cobalt was stolen.

Deputies located and began chasing the stolen vehicle and eventually pulled it over.

Authorities used suspect descriptions provided by victims and the partial license plate number to find the Explorer.

Horton said the juvenile suspects are from Birmingham.

Those charged are:

– Kristen Ramey, 21, of Leeds, is charged with attempted murder and probation violation.

– Two juveniles are charged with attempted murder and breaking and entering.

– Ladondrick Hughley, 19, of Gadsden, is charged with auto theft.

– Kimberly Stephens, 18, of Leeds, is charged with breaking and entering.

A third juvenile is still being sought.

Horton said the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Clair County Drug Unit, the Attalla Police Department and the Leeds Police Department assisted in the investigation.

“This was just good old fashion police work,” Horton said, “where several agencies come together, share information and work together to solve cases.”