A 24-year-old man from Mississippi, Daricca M. Moore, is facing the death penalty after allegedly committing a brutal assault that resulted in the deaths of six individuals, including family members.
Moore was apprehended at a barricade shortly before midnight on Friday in Cedar Bluff, just hours after the incident. Law enforcement had quickly swarmed the area in north Mississippi.
“Six people, one night, several different scenes. It’s a terrible situation,” said Scott Colom, Clay County District Attorney, as reported by the Associated Press.
Currently, Moore is being held without bail in the Clay County Jail and is set to appear in court on Monday on murder charges. Colom indicated that, if convicted, he would seek the death penalty under state law.
The violent events unfolded in a rural region about 195 miles northeast of Jackson, where fields and modest homes are prevalent.
Clay County Sheriff Eddie Scott stated at a press conference that evidence suggests Moore acted alone in the shootings, with no additional injuries reported.
Authorities are still interviewing Moore, and the motivations behind his actions remain unclear.
Reports indicate that Moore initially killed his father, Glenn Moore, 67, his brother Quinton, 33, and his uncle Willie Ed Guins, 55, at their mobile home on a dirt road in western Clay County.
Afterward, he allegedly stole his brother’s truck and drove to his cousin’s home, where he forced his way in and attempted to sexually assault her. Sheriff Scott mentioned that he put a gun to a 7-year-old girl’s head and shot her.
“I don’t know what motive someone could have to kill a 7-year-old child,” the sheriff expressed.
Moore then made his way to the Little Apostle Church of the Lord Jesus, breaking into the pastor’s residence, where he killed Rev. Barry Bradley and his brother, Rev. Samuel Bradley, before taking one of their vehicles. Some of Moore’s family members reportedly attended that church.
He was taken into custody near the scene of the second shooting at 11:24 p.m., according to officials, and was found with both a rifle and a handgun.
The arrest occurred merely four and a half hours after the first 911 call was made concerning the killings.
