Six killed in Mississippi shooting rampage, including 7-year-old girl

A 24-year-old man has been charged in a deadly shooting rampage in rural Mississippi that left six people dead, including a 7-year-old girl, authorities said. The attacks unfolded across three locations in Clay County on Friday night before the suspect was arrested at a police roadblock.

Officials said the suspect, Daricka M. Moore, is accused of killing members of his own family as well as a church pastor and the pastor’s brother. Investigators said there is no indication that anyone else was involved, and no additional injuries were reported.

Arrest and charges

Moore was taken into custody just before midnight Friday at a roadblock in the town of Cedarbluff, northeast of Jackson, after a large-scale search involving local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. He was found in possession of a rifle and a handgun, according to authorities.

Moore is being held without bail at the Clay County jail in West Point on multiple murder charges. An initial court appearance is expected Monday, when a judge is likely to appoint a public defender, Clay County District Attorney Scott Colom said.

Colom told the Associated Press that his office expects to seek the death penalty. Under Mississippi law, defendants charged with capital murder are not eligible for bail.

Timeline of the shootings

Clay County Sheriff Eddie Scott said investigators believe the violence began Friday evening at a mobile home on a dirt road in western Clay County, an area characterized by open fields, wooded stretches, and scattered modest homes.

Authorities said Moore first fatally shot his father, 67-year-old Glenn Moore; his brother, 33-year-old Quinton Moore; and his uncle, 55-year-old Willie Ed Guines. After the initial killings, Moore allegedly took his brother’s truck and drove several miles to a relative’s home.

At that location, Moore is accused of forcing his way inside and attempting to commit sexual battery. According to the sheriff, Moore then placed a gun to the head of a 7-year-old girl, his cousin, and fatally shot her. The child’s name has not been released.

“I don’t know what kind of motive you could have to kill a 7-year-old,” Scott said during a news conference on Saturday.

Children and family members spared

Witnesses told investigators that Moore also placed a gun against the head of a younger child who was present at the home. The child was not shot, though authorities said it remains unclear whether the trigger was pulled or the weapon malfunctioned.

The children’s mother and a third child were also inside the home at the time of the attack, Scott said. None of them were physically injured.

“That’s how violent it was,” the sheriff said, describing the sequence of events.

Church shooting

After leaving the second location, Moore allegedly drove to a small white frame church, the Apostolic Church of The Lord Jesus, where he broke into a residence on the church grounds.

Authorities said Moore killed the church’s pastor, the Rev. Barry Bradley, and the pastor’s brother, Samuel Bradley. Investigators said Moore then stole one of the victims’ vehicles and fled the area.

Scott said the Bradleys lived most of the time in nearby Columbus but stayed on church property during weekends. Some members of Moore’s family attend the church, according to the sheriff.

Capture and investigation

Law enforcement officers stopped Moore at approximately 11:24 p.m., about four and a half hours after the first emergency call was received, Scott said. The arrest occurred near the area of the second shooting.

Investigators are continuing to question Moore and are working to determine what may have motivated the attacks. Scott said no clear motive has been established so far.

“A situation like this, you’ve got a family member attacking their own family,” Scott said. “Whatever the reason is, we’re hoping that we’ll find out.”

Authorities are also investigating how Moore obtained the firearms used in the shootings. The Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office is conducting autopsies on all six victims.

Community impact

The killings have shaken the small, close-knit communities of Clay County, an area roughly 125 miles northeast of Jackson. Sheriff Scott said surviving relatives are struggling to process the scale of the violence.

“It was really hard to have conversations other than prayers with everybody out there,” he said. “This has really shaken our community.”

District Attorney Colom said his office is prepared to handle what is expected to be a complex prosecution involving multiple crime scenes and victims.

“Six people, one night, several different scenes — it’s about as bad as it gets,” Colom said.

Moore remains in custody as the investigation continues.