A man was arrested and charged with murder after six people, including a 7-year-old girl, were killed in a shooting spree that spanned three separate locations in Clay County, Mississippi, on Friday, January 9, 2026.
Daricka Moore was taken into custody without incident at the intersection of Pine Grove Road and Joe Myers Road after the Friday night rampage in the rural community of Cedarbluff. He was booked into the county jail after 3 a.m. Saturday.
Capital murder charges are planned, according to District Attorney Scott Colom, who said the death penalty will be sought if Moore is found eligible.
“Unfortunately, tonight we have dealt with tragedy in our community,” Sheriff Eddie Scott wrote in a social media post.
The shooting spree began at a home on David Hill Road, where three men were found shot in the head. The victims at the first location were Moore’s father, Glenn Moore, 67; his uncle, Willie Guines, 55; and his brother, Quinten Moore, 33.
Moore then stole his brother’s Ford F-150 truck and drove to a second location on Blake Road. Clay County E-911 received a 911 call at 6:56 p.m. Friday regarding gunshot victims at that address.
Moore forced his way into the Blake Road home and attempted to commit a sexual assault while armed with a handgun. He then shot and killed a 7-year-old girl in front of witnesses. The child, who was Moore’s cousin, suffered a gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead at the scene.
“I don’t know what kind of motive you could have to kill a 7-year-old,” Scott said at a news conference.
Moore fled the Blake Road residence in the stolen truck and traveled to a third location on Siloam-Griffin Road. The stolen vehicle was found hidden behind the house at that location.
Inside the home, authorities discovered two more victims: Barry Bradley and Samuel Bradley, both from Columbus, Mississippi. The Bradley brothers were found with gunshot wounds to the head and were pronounced dead at the scene.
Law enforcement officers arrested Moore at the intersection of Pine Grove Road and Joe Myers Road. He was driving a second stolen vehicle that had been taken from the third residence.
The motive for the killings remains unknown. Sheriff Scott told reporters that Moore had no prior law enforcement contact.
The rural community of Cedarbluff is located in western Clay County.
District Attorney Scott Colom addressed the severity of the case during a news conference on Saturday. He indicated that prosecutors are working to upgrade the initial first-degree murder charge to capital murder, with additional murder charges forthcoming.
Capital murder charges in Mississippi can carry the death penalty, which applies when specific aggravating circumstances are present. Multiple murders committed during a single criminal episode constitute one such circumstance under state law.
Sheriff Scott described the case as one of the most difficult investigations he has worked. He said the killings have deeply affected the community.
The investigation involves processing three separate crime scenes, collecting ballistic evidence, interviewing witnesses and reconstructing the timeline of events. Forensic evidence from each location will be crucial in building the prosecution’s case.
Mass shootings involving multiple family members present unique investigative challenges. Detectives must determine whether the attacks were planned or spontaneous, identify any warning signs that may have been missed and establish a clear sequence of events. The presence of witnesses at the Blake Road residence may provide critical testimony about Moore’s actions and state of mind during the attacks.
The case raises questions about factors that can lead family members to commit violence against their own relatives. Domestic mass shootings, while less common than other forms of gun violence, typically involve complex underlying issues including mental health concerns, substance abuse, financial stress or longstanding family conflicts. However, authorities have not indicated whether any of these factors played a role in the events.
The involvement of a child victim adds another layer of tragedy to the case. The 7-year-old girl’s death occurred in front of witnesses, who will likely need trauma counseling and victim services support in the aftermath of the violence they observed.
Mississippi law provides various support services for crime victims and their families, including counseling, financial assistance and advocacy throughout the criminal justice process. The surviving family members, particularly those who witnessed the Blake Road shooting, will have access to these resources as they cope with the trauma.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled, where a judge will determine whether sufficient probable cause exists to proceed with the charges against Moore. During this hearing, prosecutors will present evidence supporting the charges, though the full details of their case may not be revealed until trial.
Attorney information for Moore was not immediately available. Under Mississippi law, if he cannot afford an attorney, the court will appoint counsel to represent him in the capital murder proceedings.