A 24-year-old Mississippi man faces 11 felony charges after allegedly killing six people, including a 7-year-old girl and multiple family members, during a shooting spree that spanned three locations in Clay County, Mississippi, on Friday, January 10, 2026.
Daricka Moore appeared in court Monday, January 13, 2026, where he pleaded not guilty to all charges. A judge denied bond and ordered a mental evaluation. Moore faces three counts of capital murder, three counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder of a child, attempted sexual battery, burglary of a dwelling and two counts of felony taking of a motor vehicle.
The first 911 call reporting the violence came at 6:56 p.m. Friday from a residence on Blake Road. The deadly rampage began when Moore allegedly shot and killed three relatives at a residence on David Hill Road in Cedar Bluff, a rural community west of the county seat of West Point. The victims were identified as his father, Glenn Moore, 67; his uncle, Willie Guines, 55; and his brother, Quinten Moore, 33. All three men were found with gunshot wounds to the head.
After the initial killings, Moore allegedly stole his brother’s truck and drove to a second location on Blake Road. At that residence, Moore allegedly forced his way into the home and attempted to commit a sexual battery while armed with a handgun.
In front of witnesses at the Blake Road home, Moore allegedly shot and killed a 7-year-old girl, identified as Mikiylia Guines, who was also related to the suspect. The child suffered a gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Moore then fled the residence in the stolen truck and traveled to a third location on Siloam-Griffith Road in Clay County. At that home, investigators discovered the stolen pickup truck, along with signs of forced entry at the residence. Inside, deputies found two more victims: Barry Bradley, 63, and Samuel Bradley, 61. Both men had sustained gunshot wounds to the head and were pronounced dead at the scene.
Barry Bradley was a pastor at a local church, according to authorities. Moore allegedly stole a second vehicle from the Siloam-Griffith Road residence before law enforcement located him.
Officers from multiple agencies apprehended Moore at the intersection of Pine Grove Road and Joe Myers Road. He was taken into custody without incident while driving the second stolen vehicle. Moore was booked after 3 a.m. Saturday.
Clay County Sheriff Eddie Scott described the case as extraordinarily difficult for his department and the community, calling it the worst case in 30 years. The killings have deeply shaken the rural Clay County area.
District Attorney Scott Colom, speaking at a press conference, characterized the incident as unprecedented in severity. “This is the worst one that I’ve seen in ten years,” Colom said.
Investigators have not yet determined a motive for the shootings. Authorities confirmed that Moore had no prior contact with law enforcement and was not on their radar before Friday’s violence. The suspect’s relatives described themselves as a close-knit family and expressed shock that Moore would be capable of such actions.
Prosecutors announced they will seek the death penalty if Moore is found eligible. Capital murder charges in Mississippi can carry the death penalty when certain aggravating factors are present, such as multiple victims or the killing of a child. The mental evaluation ordered by the judge Monday will be a key factor in determining Moore’s eligibility for the death penalty.
The victims represent a cross-section of the tight-knit community. Glenn Moore, Willie Guines and Quinten Moore were all family members living in the same household. The 7-year-old victim, Mikiylia Guines, was related to Moore. The Bradley brothers’ connection to Moore remains unclear, though one was a respected local pastor.
The geographic spread of the crime scenes—spanning David Hill Road, Blake Road and Siloam-Griffith Road—required coordination among multiple law enforcement agencies. The rural nature of Clay County, located in the Cedar Bluff area, meant deputies had to respond across significant distances while attempting to locate an active suspect.
All six victims died from gunshot wounds to the head, according to investigators. The consistent method across three separate locations suggests a deliberate pattern, though authorities have released no information suggesting what might have triggered the violence or why these particular individuals were targeted.
The case highlights ongoing challenges in rural law enforcement, where officers must cover large geographic areas with limited resources. The successful apprehension of Moore required cooperation between county, state and federal agencies, demonstrating the interconnected nature of modern law enforcement response to major crimes.
Capital murder prosecutions in Mississippi are complex legal proceedings that can take years to resolve. The state must prove not only that Moore committed the killings but also that aggravating circumstances warrant the ultimate punishment. Defense attorneys typically challenge both the factual basis of charges and the defendant’s mental competency to stand trial. The mental evaluation ordered Monday will provide crucial information about Moore’s psychological state at the time of the alleged crimes and his current mental fitness.
As the case proceeds through the judicial system, investigators continue gathering evidence from the three crime scenes. Forensic analysis of the weapons, vehicles and locations will be crucial to building the prosecution’s case. Witness testimony, particularly from those present at the Blake Road residence, will likely play a significant role in establishing the sequence of events and Moore’s actions.
The 11 felony charges reflect the scope and severity of Moore’s alleged actions over several hours Friday evening. Beyond the six homicides, charges for attempted sexual battery, burglary and vehicle theft address other criminal acts prosecutors allege occurred during the spree. Each charge carries its own potential sentence, though the capital murder counts represent the most serious allegations with the possibility of execution or life imprisonment without parole.
Sources:
https://abcnews.go.com/US/suspect-arrested-after-6-killed-including-child-mississippi/story?id=129080298
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mississippi-shooting-spanned-three-locations-rcna253312
https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2026/01/10/6-dead-including-7-year-old-suspect-in-custody-after-mass-shooting-in-clay-county-ms-near-west-point/88119892007/
https://www.wtva.com/news/clay-county-suspect-pleads-not-guilty-to-11-felonies-after-deadly-rampage-that-killed-6/article_4e93bf06-aee5-4102-94df-43b2c0fc5b8e.html
https://www.wlbt.com/2026/01/10/6-killed-suspect-custody-mississippi/
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