The Franklin Co. Sheriff said his officers arrested two men in connection with the attempted murder of one of his deputies.

Malachi Taylor and Thurman Henderson were arrested Saturday after Sheriff Kevin White said the suspects "tried to kill him [Deputy Benjamin Splees], firing multiple rounds at his [Splees'] squad car."

There was a manhunt for Henderson in the area near Louisburg Saturday afternoon. White said Splees was among those searching for Henderson and Taylor throughout the day.

"These are the type of men and women we have protecting you. They are literally fearless," White said in a Facebook post Monday morning. "God bless, Deputy Splees!"

White said Splees is a former member of the U.S. military and describes him as a leader on the Franklin County Patrol team.

"This morning, I started every day, as I always do, with a morning prayer," White said in his Monday morning post. "I thanked the Lord for putting an armor of protection on Ben. Because of that armor, Ben made it home to his beautiful wife on Saturday night."

"May they be punished to the highest degree available," White said in a post on Facebook following the arrest of the two suspects. "Praise God for keeping our men and women safe. This is but another example of how dangerous this profession can be."

The sheriff shared photos of Henderson being led from a wooded area by deputies. The sheriff had warned people that Henderon was "armed and dangerous."

Henderson had last been seen on Moulton Road in Louisburg, North Carolina, the sheriff said. That's about 35 miles northeast of Raleigh.