In Clay County, Mississippi, a 24-year-old man has been taken into custody in connection with the fatal shootings of six people, which took place across three locations on a Friday night in a rural region northeast of Jackson. The victims comprised the suspect's father, brother, uncle, a 7-year-old cousin, as well as a church pastor and the pastor's brother.
The suspect, Daricka M. Moore, was apprehended near midnight at a police checkpoint in Cedarbluff following a large-scale response involving local, state, and federal law enforcement agents. Moore remains held without bail at Clay County jail, with plans for an initial court appearance scheduled for Monday. District Attorney Scott Colom has indicated an intention to pursue capital punishment, noting that Moore is likely to receive a public defender due to the severity of the charges. Under Mississippi law, if charges escalate to capital murder, bail will be denied.
At a press briefing on Saturday, Clay County Sheriff Eddie Scott stated that evidence and witness accounts currently show Moore as the sole perpetrator, with no other injuries reported. The investigation continues as authorities seek to understand Moore's motivation for the attacks.
The shootings occurred in a predominantly rural area characterized by fields, woodlands, and modest residences situated about 125 miles northeast of the state's capital. Officials believe the shootings began at the family’s mobile home in western Clay County where Moore allegedly killed his father, Glenn Moore, 67; his brother, Quinton Moore, 33; and his uncle, Willie Ed Guines, 55. Following this, Moore reportedly stole his brother’s vehicle and traveled several miles to a relative's residence.
There, he reportedly forced entry and attempted sexual battery. The sheriff detailed a tragic outcome where Moore then held a gun to the head of a 7-year-old female cousin before fatally shooting her. The identity of the child has been withheld. Sheriff Scott remarked on the incomprehensibility of targeting a young child in such violence.
Witnesses also reported that Moore pointed a firearm at a younger child’s head but did not shoot. The reasons—whether the trigger was not pulled or the gun malfunctioned—remain unclear. The mother and an additional child were present during this incident.
Subsequently, the suspect proceeded to the Apostolic Church of The Lord Jesus, a small white frame church where additional violence ensued. Moore is alleged to have broken into a residence on the church grounds, killing the pastor, Reverend Barry Bradley, and his brother, Samuel Bradley. Both men primarily resided in nearby Columbus but spent weekends at the church property. Some members of the Moore family are reported to attend this church.
After these incidents, Moore was apprehended at a roadblock roughly four and a half hours after the first emergency call was received. The suspect was found to be in possession of both a rifle and a handgun. Investigations into the source of the firearms are ongoing.
Autopsies on the victims are being conducted by the state medical examiner. Sheriff Scott commented on the emotional toll on surviving family members and the wider community, describing the situation as profoundly difficult and shaking for the local population.
District Attorney Colom, a Democrat seeking his party's nomination to run for U.S. Senate, expressed confidence in his office’s capacity to prosecute and underscored the gravity of the case. According to Colom, the nature of the crimes—multiple homicides across different locations in one night—represent a severe breach of the community’s safety.