WEST POINT, MS - A Mississippi man was arrested earlier in January after authorities say he carried out a series of shootings across Clay County that left six dead, with one of the victims being a 7-year-old girl related to the suspect.
During the early morning hours of January 10, 24-year-old Daricka Moore was booked into the Clay County Jail on charges of first-degree murder after authorities say the suspect carried out a series of fatal shootings the evening prior that reportedly targeted family members.
Authorities say the first shooting occurred just before 7:00 p.m. on January 9 at a residence located along David Hill Road, with the victims being identified as Moore’s 67-year-old father, Glenn, his 55-year-old uncle Willie Guines, and his 33-year-old brother Quinten. All three victims were reportedly shot in the head, according to officials.
Following the triple homicide, police say Moore stole a pickup truck belonging to his brother and made his way to another residence located along Blake Road. Upon arriving at the Blake Road residence, authorities say Moore attempted to sexually assault a woman inside the home before fatally shooting his 7-year-old second cousin, later identified by the victim’s family as Mikiylia Guines.
Witnesses reportedly told authorities Moore placed a firearm to the head of another child inside the home after murdering Mikiylia, with the victim’s mother and a third child reportedly still present. However, law enforcement officials say Moore did not shoot the second child and instead fled to another residence located along Siloam-Griffith Road.
Investigators reportedly found the stolen truck Moore had been using at the Siloam-Griffith Road residence, along with the bodies of two individuals identified as Barry Bradley and Samuel Bradley.
Officials say both of the victims were shot in the head, with one of the Bradleys being a pastor at a nearby church who authorities believe may have personally known Moore.
Authorities caught up with Moore at the intersection of Pine Grove Road and Joe Myers Road, where the suspect was reportedly found in a vehicle stolen from a residence on Siloam-Griffith Road.
At this time, investigators have yet to detail a possible motive in the case, with Clay County Sheriff Eddie Scott saying, “I put it like this, you know, this guy has not been on our radar. We had not received any prior reports or indications leading up to this. So, what his state of mind was, what was going on with him… that's part of the investigation right now.”
District Attorney Scott Colom confirmed that prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in the case, calling the series of murders “about as bad as it gets.” Moore is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing on January 12.
During the early morning hours of January 10, 24-year-old Daricka Moore was booked into the Clay County Jail on charges of first-degree murder after authorities say the suspect carried out a series of fatal shootings the evening prior that reportedly targeted family members.
Authorities say the first shooting occurred just before 7:00 p.m. on January 9 at a residence located along David Hill Road, with the victims being identified as Moore’s 67-year-old father, Glenn, his 55-year-old uncle Willie Guines, and his 33-year-old brother Quinten. All three victims were reportedly shot in the head, according to officials.
Following the triple homicide, police say Moore stole a pickup truck belonging to his brother and made his way to another residence located along Blake Road. Upon arriving at the Blake Road residence, authorities say Moore attempted to sexually assault a woman inside the home before fatally shooting his 7-year-old second cousin, later identified by the victim’s family as Mikiylia Guines.
Witnesses reportedly told authorities Moore placed a firearm to the head of another child inside the home after murdering Mikiylia, with the victim’s mother and a third child reportedly still present. However, law enforcement officials say Moore did not shoot the second child and instead fled to another residence located along Siloam-Griffith Road.
Investigators reportedly found the stolen truck Moore had been using at the Siloam-Griffith Road residence, along with the bodies of two individuals identified as Barry Bradley and Samuel Bradley.
Officials say both of the victims were shot in the head, with one of the Bradleys being a pastor at a nearby church who authorities believe may have personally known Moore.
Authorities caught up with Moore at the intersection of Pine Grove Road and Joe Myers Road, where the suspect was reportedly found in a vehicle stolen from a residence on Siloam-Griffith Road.
At this time, investigators have yet to detail a possible motive in the case, with Clay County Sheriff Eddie Scott saying, “I put it like this, you know, this guy has not been on our radar. We had not received any prior reports or indications leading up to this. So, what his state of mind was, what was going on with him… that's part of the investigation right now.”
District Attorney Scott Colom confirmed that prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in the case, calling the series of murders “about as bad as it gets.” Moore is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing on January 12.
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