A 24-year-old Mississippi man slaughtered six family members and church leaders in a horrific Friday night rampage that included the execution-style killing of his 7-year-old cousin and an attempted sexual assault.
Story Highlights
- Daricka Moore killed his father, brother, uncle, 7-year-old cousin, and two church leaders across three locations
- Prosecutors immediately signaled intent to pursue the death penalty for the brutal family annihilation
- The rampage included attempted sexual battery and placing a gun to another small child’s head
- Rural Clay County mobilized dozens of local, state, and federal officers to stop the multi-scene killing spree
Family Annihilation Shocks Rural Mississippi
Daricka Moore, 24, stands accused of methodically executing six people across three rural Clay County locations in what authorities describe as one of the most heinous crimes in the area’s history. The carnage began at the family’s mobile home on a dirt road in western Clay County, where Moore allegedly shot and killed his 67-year-old father Glenn Moore, 33-year-old brother Quinton Moore, and 55-year-old uncle Willie Ed Guines. This brutal family betrayal represents a complete breakdown of traditional family bonds that have long anchored rural American communities.
After stealing his brother’s truck, Moore drove to a cousin’s residence near Cedarbluff where he forced entry and attempted sexual battery before putting a gun to the head of a 7-year-old girl and pulling the trigger. Witnesses reported he then placed the weapon against another young child’s head, though that child survived when the gun either misfired or Moore chose not to fire. The mother and a third child were present but physically unharmed, becoming key witnesses to this unthinkable act of violence against the most innocent members of society.
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Church Leaders Targeted in Final Attack
The rampage culminated at the Apostolic Church of the Lord Jesus, a small white frame church where some Moore family members attended services. Moore allegedly broke into a residence on the church grounds and killed Rev. Barry Bradley and his brother Samuel Bradley before stealing one of their vehicles. This attack on religious leadership strikes at the heart of rural community structure, where pastors often serve as moral anchors and sources of comfort during times of crisis.
Law enforcement apprehended Moore at a roadblock near the second crime scene at approximately 11:24 p.m., about four and a half hours after receiving the first emergency call. Officers recovered both a rifle and handgun from the suspect, though authorities are still investigating how he obtained the weapons. The swift police response involving dozens of local, state, and federal officers prevented what could have been an even more devastating tragedy for this tight-knit rural community.
Death Penalty Pursuit Signals Justice for Victims
Clay County District Attorney Scott Colom immediately signaled his intent to pursue capital punishment, calling the case “about as bad as it gets” given the number of victims and multiple crime scenes. Moore faces multiple murder charges and is being held without bail, with capital murder upgrades likely forthcoming that would permanently bar any possibility of release. This aggressive prosecutorial stance reflects the community’s demand for ultimate justice in a case that has shattered multiple families and destroyed lives.
The motive for this senseless violence remains unknown, with Sheriff Eddie Scott emphasizing the difficulty of understanding why a family member would turn on his own relatives with such brutal efficiency. Investigators continue interviewing Moore and witnesses while conducting autopsies on all six victims through the state medical examiner’s office. This case will likely become a reference point in Mississippi’s death penalty discussions, demonstrating exactly the type of heinous crime that demands the ultimate punishment under law.
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6 people killed in Mississippi rampage, including 7-year-old girl. Suspect charged with murder
6 people killed in Mississippi rampage, including 7-year-old girl. Suspect charged with murder
Man charged with murder after 6 are killed in a shooting rampage in Mississippi
