WEST POINT, Miss. (AP) — A shocking series of shootings took place on Friday night in rural Mississippi, leading to the tragic deaths of six individuals, including family members and a church pastor. Daricka M. Moore, a 24-year-old man, has been arrested following the violent spree that occurred across three distinct locations.
Moore was apprehended shortly before midnight at a police roadblock in Cedarbluff after a coordinated response from county, state, and federal officers flooded the area. He is currently being held without bail at the Clay County jail facing murder charges, with an initial court appearance scheduled for Monday.
The Clay County District Attorney, Scott Colom, has expressed intentions to pursue the death penalty given the severity of the case. He indicated that Moore is likely to be represented by a public defender during his court appearance. It's expected that if charges escalate to capital murder before this appearance, Moore's eligibility for bail will be revoked per state statutes.
According to Clay County Sheriff Eddie Scott, evidence and witness statements indicate that Moore acted alone during the shootings, with no other injuries reported. The exact motives behind Moore's actions remain unclear as investigators continue to interview him.
“A situation like this, you’ve got a family member attacking their own family,” Sheriff Scott noted during a press briefing, underscoring the unusual nature of this intra-family violence. The killings began in the family's mobile home, where Moore allegedly shot his father, 67-year-old Glenn Moore, his brother, 33-year-old Quinton Moore, and his uncle, 55-year-old Willie Ed Guines.
Afterward, Moore reportedly drove to a cousin's house where he broke in and attempted to assault a 7-year-old girl, who was ultimately shot dead. Witness reports indicate that he threatened another child with a firearm but did not pull the trigger. Following this, Moore drove to a nearby church, the Apostolic Church of The Lord Jesus, where he killed the pastor, Rev. Barry Bradley, and his brother Samuel Bradley.
At around 11:24 p.m., shortly after the last shooting, Moore was captured with a rifle and a handgun. Investigators are currently determining how he obtained the firearms used during the attacks.
The impact of this violence has deeply affected the community. With overwhelming grief, surviving family members and local residents are grappling with the aftermath of such a devastating event. D.A. Colom emphasized the gravity of the situation, calling it one of the worst cases he has encountered.
Autopsies are being performed on the victims by the state medical examiner, as the community mourns the loss of loved ones in an incident that leaves more questions than answers.
