WEST POINT, Miss. — A shooting spree on Friday night left six people dead, including a 7-year-old girl, in a shocking incident that has shaken the residents of Clay County. The alleged gunman, 24-year-old Daricka Moore, has been charged with first-degree murder and is expected to face upgraded charges of capital murder as investigations continue.
Clay County Sheriff Eddie Scott reported that the rampage began at approximately 7 p.m. at a residence on David Hill Road. There, Moore is accused of fatally shooting his father, Glenn Moore, 67, his uncle, Willie Guines, 55, and his brother, Quinten Moore, 33. All three victims were shot in the head, underscoring the brutal nature of the attack.
Following the initial murders, Moore reportedly stole his brother’s pickup truck and traveled to a second residence on Blake Road. Once there, he allegedly broke in and attempted a sexual assault before turning his weapon on the young girl, identified as Mikiylia Guines, the suspect’s second cousin. Tragically, she was shot in the head.
Witnesses noted that other children and their mother were present in the house during the attack. After the girl’s murder, Moore allegedly threatened another small child with a firearm but did not shoot that child, for reasons currently unknown to investigators.
Daricka Moore continued his violent spree by moving to a location on Siloam-Griffith Road, where two additional victims, Barry and Samuel Bradley, were discovered shot dead. One of the Bradleys was recognized as a pastor at a local church, suggesting a potential association between him and the suspect.
Sheriff Scott emphasized the confusion surrounding Moore’s motives, stating that the shooter had not been previously flagged by law enforcement for any violent behavior. “We had not had any reports, anything prior leading up to this,” Scott noted, leaving many in the community questioning what could have led to such a tragic event.
Officials apprehended Moore at the intersection of Pine Grove Road and Joe Myers Road, discovering him in a vehicle stolen from the scene of the second incident. As the investigation unfolds, the District Attorney, Scott Colom, indicated that prosecutors are considering pursuing the death penalty, emphasizing the severity of the allegations.
“There’s no question the charges are as heinous as they come,” Colom remarked. The Brown County community is now left grappling with both grief and fear, seeking answers as they process the impact of this senseless act of violence. A preliminary hearing for Moore is slated for Monday, as the investigation continues to reveal the chilling details of this case.