A 24-year-old man methodically executed six family members and church leaders across three rural Mississippi locations in a single night, leaving a 7-year-old girl among the dead and a community grappling with unthinkable evil.
Story Highlights
- Daricka Moore killed his father, brother, uncle, 7-year-old cousin, and two church leaders in Clay County
- The rampage spanned three locations including family homes and church property over several hours
- Moore allegedly attempted sexual battery before executing the child victim
- Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty as Moore faces capital murder charges
A Night of Unfathomable Horror
Friday evening in rural Clay County began like any other until Daricka Moore transformed into something monstrous. At his family’s mobile home on a dirt road, Moore systematically shot and killed his 67-year-old father Glenn, his 33-year-old brother Quinton, and his 55-year-old uncle Willie Ed Guines. The carnage was just beginning.
Moore stole his dead brother’s truck and drove to a cousin’s home miles away. There, witnesses report he forced his way inside, attempted to commit sexual battery, then placed a gun to his 7-year-old cousin’s head and pulled the trigger. A younger child had a gun placed to their head but survived when the weapon either misfired or Moore chose not to fire.
The Church Becomes a Crime Scene
The final stop in Moore’s rampage was the Apostolic Church of the Lord Jesus, a small white-frame church where some Moore family members worshipped. Moore broke into the residence on church grounds where Pastor Barry Bradley and his brother Samuel Bradley stayed on weekends when they weren’t in Columbus.
Both men were shot and killed. Moore then stole one of their vehicles and fled into the night. Law enforcement flooded northeast Mississippi, setting up roadblocks as they hunted for a killer who had shattered multiple families in a matter of hours.
Justice Moves Swiftly
At 11:24 p.m., approximately four and a half hours after the first 911 call, Moore was stopped at a roadblock near Cedarbluff. He was found with both a rifle and handgun in his possession. The weapons that had claimed six innocent lives were finally silenced.
District Attorney Scott Colom wasted no time signaling his intentions. Murder charges were filed immediately, with capital murder charges expected to follow. Colom stated publicly that pursuing the death penalty is “the right thing to do” in this case. Moore is being held without bail, and Mississippi law would make him ineligible for bond if upgraded to capital murder charges.
A Motive That Remains Hidden
Sheriff Eddie Scott described the crime scene aftermath in stark terms: “Six people, one night, several different scenes, it’s about as bad as it gets.” Yet investigators admit they still don’t understand why Moore chose to annihilate his own family and terrorize his community. The absence of a clear motive makes the violence even more chilling.
Clay County, a rural area near West Point with historically low violent crime rates, has been fundamentally shaken. Sheriff Scott captured the community’s bewilderment: how does a family member turn on their own with such calculated brutality? The investigation continues as authorities interview Moore and piece together what drove a young man to commit such unthinkable acts against those who should have been able to trust him most.
Sources:
Inquirer – Murders Mississippi Family Six Shooting
ABC News – 6 Killed Mississippi Mass Shooting
Mississippi Today – Mississippi Shootings Six Killed
