A man has been charged with murder following the fatal shootings of six individuals, including a seven-year-old girl, in a series of events that unfolded across three locations in Clay County, Mississippi, on January 9, 2026.
Daricka Moore, 24, was apprehended without incident at the intersection of Pine Grove Road and Joe Myers Road following the violent rampage that took place Friday night in the rural region of Cedarbluff. Moore was processed into the county detention center early Saturday morning.
District Attorney Scott Colom announced plans to press capital murder charges against Moore and may seek the death penalty if Moore qualifies.
“Unfortunately, tonight we have dealt with tragedy in our community,” stated Sheriff Eddie Scott in a post on social media.
The series of shootings started at a residence on David Hill Road, where three men were discovered dead from gunshot wounds to the head. The victims at this scene were identified as Moore’s father, Glenn Moore, 67; his uncle, Willie Guines, 55; and his brother, Quinten Moore, 33.
Following the initial shootings, Moore stole his brother’s Ford F-150 truck and traveled to a second location on Blake Road. Clay County E-911 received a call at 6:56 p.m. Friday regarding gunshot victims at this address.
Upon entering the Blake Road residence, Moore attempted to sexually assault and subsequently shot and killed the seven-year-old girl, his second cousin, identified as Mikiylia Guines, in front of witnesses. The child suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead at the scene. A second younger child had a gun placed to their head, but was not shot.
“I don’t know what kind of motive you could have to kill a seven-year-old,” Sheriff Scott expressed at a press conference.
Moore then fled the scene in the stolen vehicle and proceeded to a third location on Siloam-Griffin Road. The vehicle was discovered concealed behind a house at this location.
Two additional victims, Barry Bradley, 63, and Samuel Bradley, 61, both from Columbus, Mississippi, were found dead inside the house, each with gunshot wounds to the head. Barry Bradley was a pastor at Apostolic Church of the Lord Jesus. Moore was subsequently arrested while driving another stolen vehicle taken from the third residence.
While the motive behind the murders remains unclear, Sheriff Scott informed reporters that Moore had no prior encounters with law enforcement.
Sheriff Scott characterized the investigation as one of the most challenging he has encountered, noting the profound impact of the killings on the community.
On Monday, January 12, 2026, Moore made his initial court appearance before Clay County Circuit Court Judge Jim Kitchens, where he entered not guilty pleas to all eleven charges.
The charges include three counts of capital murder for the deaths of Mikiylia Guines, Barry Bradley, and Samuel Bradley; three counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of his father, brother, and uncle; attempted capital murder of a second child; attempted sexual battery; burglary of a dwelling; and two counts of felony taking of a motor vehicle.
Judge Kitchens denied bond, as Moore is ineligible for bail under Mississippi state law when charged with capital murder. The judge also ordered a mental health evaluation to be completed before the preliminary hearing proceeds.
District Attorney Colom explained the basis for the capital murder charges, stating that under Mississippi law, killing three or more people qualifies as capital murder, as does killing a child in circumstances that constitute child abuse. Colom indicated that the three first-degree murder charges for Moore’s family members may also be upgraded to capital murder. He emphasized that if the mental evaluation does not reveal mitigating factors, the case represents the worst type of crime under Mississippi law and warrants the most severe punishment.
Family members were present at the hearing, with Rene Guines McMillian, a cousin of Moore, stating that while the family would never be the same, they would emerge stronger from the tragedy.