A shooting rampage in Mississippi left six people dead on the night of October 27, 2023. The suspect, Daricka M. Moore, aged 24, has been charged with murder following the violent incidents that took place across three locations in a rural area of Clay County. The victims included Moore’s father, Glenn Moore, 67; brother, Quinton Moore, 33; uncle, Willie Ed Guines, 55; a 7-year-old cousin; as well as a church pastor, Barry Bradley, and his brother, Samuel Bradley.
Authorities apprehended Moore at a police roadblock in Cedarbluff shortly before midnight. He is currently being held without bail at the Clay County jail and is expected to appear before a judge on Monday. Clay County District Attorney Scott Colom indicated that he intends to pursue the death penalty against Moore, stating, “Six people, one night, several different scenes, it’s about as bad as it gets.”
Details of the Rampage
The tragic events began at approximately 19:00 local time when Moore allegedly murdered his father, brother, and uncle at the family’s mobile home on a dirt road. Following the initial killings, he is reported to have stolen his brother’s truck and proceeded to a cousin’s residence. There, he attempted to commit sexual battery against his cousin’s daughter, a 7-year-old girl, before fatally shooting her.
According to Clay County Sheriff Eddie Scott, witnesses reported that Moore also threatened another child with the firearm, although that child was not harmed. The violent nature of these acts has shaken the local community, with Sheriff Scott expressing concern over the motivations behind such brutality. “A situation like this, you’ve got a family member attacking their own family,” he remarked.
Moore’s next stop was the Apostolic Church of The Lord Jesus, where he allegedly broke in and killed Pastor Barry Bradley and his brother Samuel. The Bradleys were known to spend weekends on church grounds, and some of Moore’s family members attended this church, adding a layer of tragedy to the events.
Investigation and Community Response
Moore was arrested at a roadblock near Cedarbluff at 23:24, approximately four and a half hours after the first 911 call was made. He was found in possession of both a rifle and a handgun. Investigators are currently examining how he acquired these weapons. The state medical examiner is conducting autopsies on the victims as part of the ongoing investigation.
The Clay County community is grappling with the aftermath of the shootings. Sheriff Scott noted that the surviving relatives of Moore are “overwhelmed with grief.” He described the difficulty of discussing the situation with them, saying, “It was really hard to have conversations other than prayers with everybody out there.”
District Attorney Colom, a Democrat seeking his party’s nomination for a U.S. Senate seat, emphasized the importance of holding Moore accountable. He reassured the community that his office has adequate resources to manage the prosecution, asserting that pursuing the death penalty is justified under the circumstances.
As the investigation progresses, the community remains in shock over the tragic events that unfolded on that fateful night in Mississippi.
