A 24-year-old man from Mississippi, Daricca M. Moore, faces serious charges after allegedly committing a mass shooting that left six people dead, including family members and a church pastor, in several rural locations on Friday night. Prosecutors noted that the death penalty could be on the table.
Moore is currently held without bail at the Clay County Jail in West Point on multiple murder charges connected to the deaths of his father, brother, uncle, 7-year-old cousin, the church pastor, and the pastor’s brother. A court appearance is set for Monday, where a public defender will likely be appointed for him.
The Clay County District Attorney, Scott Colom, is preparing to pursue the death penalty; if the charges are escalated to that degree before Moore’s court date, he won’t be eligible for bail under state law.
Moore was apprehended near a police barricade in Cedar Bluff shortly before midnight after a large number of police officers, including local, state, and federal agents, responded to the scene. This occurred in an area characterized by fields, forests, and modest homes.
According to Sheriff Eddie Scott, evidence suggests that Moore acted alone, and thankfully, no other injuries were reported. Investigators are still trying to understand the motive behind the attack, which again, strikes a nerve in a typically quiet community.
Scott remarked, “In a situation like this, it’s shocking when a family member turns against their own.”
Moore is believed to have started the violent spree by murdering his father, 67-year-old Glenn Moore. He then reportedly followed with the shooting of his younger brother, Quinton Moore, 33, and uncle, Willie Ed Guins, 55. Afterward, he allegedly took his brother’s truck and drove to his cousin’s home where he forced entry and attempted to sexually assault her. Disturbingly, he then shot his 7-year-old cousin.
“I don’t know what could justify killing a 7-year-old,” Scott acknowledged. At the time, the girl’s mother and another child were also in the house. Witnesses reported that Moore pointed a gun at the younger child’s head as well, but that child was thankfully not hurt; it’s unclear if the gun malfunctioned or if he chose not to pull the trigger.
Moore then traveled to the Church of the Lord Jesus the Apostle, associated with some members of his family. He allegedly broke into a residence on church grounds, killing both the pastor, Rev. Barry Bradley, and his brother, Rev. Samuel Bradley, before stealing a car.
Authorities arrested Moore around 11:24 p.m., about four and a half hours after the first 911 call was made. During the arrest, he possessed both a rifle and a handgun, and the investigators are looking into how he acquired these weapons.
The state medical examiner is conducting autopsies on the victims, and Sheriff Scott mentioned that the incident has significantly distressed Moore’s surviving family as well as the community.
“Having any conversation beyond prayer has been quite difficult,” he said.
Colom expressed confidence in prosecuting Moore appropriately, citing the nature of the crime as a reason to seek the death penalty.
“It couldn’t have been more tragic—six lives lost in one night across different scenes,” he stated.
