6 people were killed across three locations in the northeast Mississippi area during a Friday night shooting spree. The victims, including a 7-year-old girl, are believed to have been shot by suspect Daricka M Moore.
US authorities have since named the 24-year-old Mississippi man as the mass shooting suspect, and charged him with first-degree murder, which could be upgraded to capital murder amid his pending first court appearance.
At a Saturday news conference (US time), Clay County Sheriff Eddie Scott cited witnesses and evidence suggesting that Daricka M Moore was the sole shooter, as per the Associated Press. Of the six victims killed in the rampage, at least four are believed to have been family members of the suspect.
As per Sheriff Scott’s admissions at the conference, the youngest victim was also related to Moore, but remains unidentified.
Mississippi shooting victims identified
The shooting unfolding across three different locations resulted in the deaths of at least four members of Moore’s family. They were: the suspect’s father, 67-year-old Glenn Moore, his brother, 33-year-old Quinton Moore and his uncle, 55-year-old Willie Ed Guines. All of these people were fatally shot at the family’s mobile home in western Clay County.
Meanwhile, the fourth member of the family, the 7-year-old girl, hasn’t been named by the authorities due to her young age.
According to Sheriff Scott, others to have died in the Mississippi mass shootings were a pastor and his brother, Rev. Barry Bradley and Samuel Bradley. They were killed after Moore allegedly drove to the Apostolic Church of the Lord Jesus and broke into a residence.
As far as the sequence of the deadly events goes, investigators believe that Moore first targeted his father, brother and uncle at their mobile home. He is then said to have stolen his brother’s truck and driven a few miles to a cousin’s house. When there, he allegedly broke in and attempted to commit sexual battery, as per the AP. Sheriff Scott further indicated that Moore eventually aimed a gun at a 7-year-old girl and fatally shot her.
Relying on eyewitness accounts, Scott said during the conference that Moore also tried to target another young child, but she was not shot. It remains unclear whether he failed to pull the trigger or the gun misfired. The mother and a third child were also there at the residence, as per the sheriff.
After demonstrating hostility at his cousin’s house, Moore is believed to have driven to the church. After killing the pastor and his brother, he reportedly stole one of their vehicles as well.
Where is Mississippi suspect Daricka M Moore now?
He was ultimately arrested at a police roadblock in Cedarbluff just before midnight, near where the second shooting took place, according to AP quoting Sheriff Scott.
Clay County District Attorney Scott Colom also told AP that Moore was found with a rifle and a handgun. It has yet to be revealed where the suspect got these weapons from.
While authorities are still investigating what motivated Moore to allegedly commit these heinous crimes, officials pointed out that the suspect hadn’t been on their radar. According to online court records in Clay County cited by the AP, Daricka has no previous criminal record.
He is currently being held without bail at the Clay County jail in West point ahead of the initial court appearance slated for Monday.