A 24-year-old man from Mississippi has entered a plea of not guilty to charges of killing six people, including a young girl, during a violent late-night rampage across rural communities.
Court Hearing and Charges
At a hearing in Clay County Circuit Court on Monday, Daricka M. Moore denied 11 separate charges. These include capital murder, first-degree murder, attempted murder of a child, attempted sexual battery, burglary, and theft of a motor vehicle.
Judge Jim Kitchens ordered a mental evaluation for the defendant and appointed Clarissa Harris as his defence lawyer. As Moore faces capital murder charges, he is ineligible for bail under Mississippi state law.
Prosecutors indicated their intention to upgrade the first-degree murder charges to capital murder. District Attorney Scott Colom has confirmed he will seek the death penalty in this case. A trial date has not yet been scheduled.
Details of the Fatal Night
The shootings occurred late on Friday across three locations in northeastern Mississippi. Authorities allege that Moore first killed three family members at a mobile home: his 67-year-old father, Glenn Moore; his 33-year-old brother, Quinten Moore; and his 55-year-old uncle, Willie Ed Guines.
He is then accused of stealing his brother's truck and driving to a cousin's house. There, he allegedly forced entry, attempted a sexual battery, and fatally shot his 7-year-old cousin, Mikylia Guines, in the head. Witnesses state he also placed a gun against the head of a younger child, but no shot was fired.
The final stop was the Apostolic Church of The Lord Jesus. Moore allegedly broke into a residence on the grounds and killed the pastor, Rev. Barry Bradley, and his brother, Samuel Bradley, before stealing a vehicle. The Bradleys, who lived primarily in Columbus, spent weekends at the church, which some of Moore's family attended.
Community Reaction and Investigation
Moore was arrested just before midnight on Friday at a police roadblock in Cedarbluff after a large-scale manhunt involving local, state, and federal officers. Clay County Sheriff Eddie Scott confirmed that evidence and witnesses point to Moore acting alone. No motive for the attacks has been disclosed by investigators.
In the wake of the tragedy, family members spoke of their loss and resilience. Cousin Edith Watkins Bradshaw emphasised the power of unity and love, stating that Daricka Moore remained part of the family. Another cousin, Rene Guines McMillian, said, "Our family will never be the same, but we're going to be stronger because of this."
