WEST POINT, Miss. (TCN) — A 24-year-old man is in custody after a allegedly killing six people in a shooting spree, including multiple family members and a child.
The Associated Press reports Daricka M. Moore was arrested Jan. 9 at a police roadblock about 4.5 hours after the first shootings were reported. He was reportedly armed with a rifle and handgun. He was charged with murder and taken into custody at the Clay County jail, where he remains held without bail.
Mississippi Today reports Moore pleaded not guilty to three charges of murder, three charges of capital murder, three counts of first-degree murder, attempted sexual battery, attempted murder of a child, burglary, and two counts of taking a motor vehicle.
According to the AP, the investigators believe the shooting spree began when Moore allegedly shot several family members at their mobile home in a rural area. These victims included his father, Glenn Moore, 67; his brother Quinton Moore, 33; and his uncle, Willie Ed Guines, 55.
The suspect then allegedly stole his brother’s truck and drove to his cousin’s house, where he allegedly forced his way in. He then allegedly killed a 7-year-old girl in front of her mother and another sibling after attempting sexual assault. He also allegedly tried to kill another child, according to the AP, but investigators have not clarified whether the gun misfired or he didn’t pull the trigger.
Mississippi Today reports family members identified the 7-year-old victim as Daricka Moore’s second cousin Mikiylia Guines. A court affidavit obtained by the outlet says the child was the target of Moore’s attempted sexual assault.
The shooting spree concluded when the suspect drove to a small church and allegedly killed the pastor, the Rev. Barry Bradley, and his brother, Samuel Bradley, the AP reports.
Lashanna Guines, Mikiylia Guines’ mother, told WTVA, “Whatever it was, even if he would have just took it out on me and not my 7-year-old… why? I just want to know why.”
Investigators have not revealed a motive in the shootings, according to the AP. WDSU reports Daricka Moore does not have a criminal history.
Clay County District Attorney Scott Colom will likely pursue the death penalty, according to the AP.
According to Mississippi Today, the judge has ordered a mental health evaluation.
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