Mississippi man charged with six murders, including father, brother and a child | US news
Authorities in Clay County, Mississippi, said a man was taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder after six people, including a child, were shot to death Friday night.
Daricka Moore, 24, is accused of killing several relatives and a local pastor before being arrested, according to Clay County Sheriff Eddie Scott, who addressed the incident at a news conference Saturday. The charge against Moore, who lives in the area, is expected to be upgraded to capital murder, and prosecutors could seek the death penalty if he is deemed mentally unstable, authorities said.
“This is terrible. It’s as bad as it gets,” said Scott Colom, district attorney for Mississippi’s 16th district court, which includes Clay County.
Sheriff Scott said investigators believe Moore first shot his father, brother and uncle Friday evening. Moore then allegedly got into a truck and drove to another location; There, authorities said, he also attempted to sexually assault a relative of his, a seven-year-old girl, and then shot her as well.
Scott said the case was “one of the most challenging cases we’ve ever had to work” in his 30 years of service.
The first attack occurred at a home on David Hill Road shortly before 7 p.m., authorities said. The victims there were identified as Glen Moore, 67; Willie Guines, 55; and Quinton Moore, 33.
A call to emergency services led authorities to a home on Blake Road, where Moore forced his way in and “attempted sexual assault while armed,” Scott said. Deputies later found the seven-year-old girl’s body there.
Investigators believe Moore drove to a home on Siloam-Griffith Road after stealing a Ford F-150 belonging to his deceased brother.
At that location, deputies discovered the stolen truck hidden behind the residence and found the bodies of Barry Bradley and Samuel Bradley, who also appeared to have been fatally shot. One of them was the pastor of a local church, Scott said.
It is not yet known whether the Bradleys had a prior relationship with Moore, authorities said.
Moore was later taken into custody at the intersection of Pine Grove Road and Joe Myers Road just before midnight. He was driving a vehicle that investigators said was taken from the home on Siloam-Griffith Road.
Authorities have not yet determined what caused the killings.
“This has really shaken up our community,” Scott said at the news conference. “Personally, I don’t know what kind of justification you could have for killing a seven-year-old child.”
Autopsies will be performed by the Mississippi crime lab, Scott said.
Moore is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Monday. District prosecutor Colom said the death penalty would be considered in the case.
Reuters contributed reporting
