Six people are dead — including a child and church pastor — after a violent Clay County Mississippi shooting unfolded across three locations Friday night.
CLAY COUNTY, MISS. — A devastating Clay County Mississippi shooting has left six people dead, including a 7-year-old child and a church pastor, after investigators say a 24-year-old man went on a violent, multi-location rampage Friday night across rural northeast Mississippi.
Authorities allege Daricka M. Moore carried out the killings at three separate locations, sparking an urgent manhunt that drew in local deputies, state troopers, and federal agents before he was stopped at a late-night roadblock.
Clay County officials say Moore was arrested in Cedar Bluff just before midnight. He was booked into the Clay County jail in West Point early Saturday morning and is being held without bond while awaiting an expected court appearance Monday.
Prosecutors have indicated they plan to pursue multiple capital charges in connection with the six deaths.
Clay County Mississippi Shooting Spanned Three Locations in One Night
According to Clay County Sheriff Eddie Scott, investigators believe Moore acted alone. The sheriff said evidence collected so far and witness accounts point to a single shooter, and no additional suspects are being sought. Authorities also reported no injuries beyond the six fatalities.
Law enforcement says the first call came in just before 7 p.m. Friday as deputies began receiving reports from different locations.
Scene One: Family Home Turned Into a Crime Scene
Investigators say the violence began in Cedar Bluff, a small community west of the county seat, West Point. Authorities allege Moore killed three relatives at the first location:
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Glenn Moore, 67 (father)
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Willie Guines, 55 (uncle)
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Quinten Moore, 33 (brother)
After the first killings, investigators say Moore stole his brother’s truck and drove off, with officers scrambling to locate him before more harm could be done.
Scene Two: Child Fatally Shot During Home Invasion
Authorities say Moore then drove several miles to a cousin’s home where a mother and children were inside. Sheriff Scott said investigators believe Moore forced his way in and attempted to commit sexual battery.
That’s when the situation turned even darker.
According to the sheriff, Moore allegedly placed a gun to the head of 7-year-old Mikiylia “Kiyla” Guines and fired, killing her.
“I don’t know what kind of motive you could have to kill a 7-year-old,” Sheriff Scott said during a Saturday news conference, visibly disturbed by the details.
The sheriff said witnesses reported Moore then pressed a gun to another child’s head, but that child survived. It remains unclear whether the weapon malfunctioned or whether Moore didn’t pull the trigger. The mother and a third child were also present.
Investigators described the second location as a terrifying scene of chaos and trauma — and the kind of violence that leaves a family emotionally ruined long after the crime tape comes down.
Scene Three: Church Grounds Targeted, Pastor Killed
Authorities say Moore then sped to a third location: the Apostolic Church of the Lord Jesus on Siloam-Griffith Road.
Investigators allege he broke into a residence connected to the church and killed:
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Rev. Barry Bradley (pastor)
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Samuel Bradley (pastor’s brother)
Sheriff Scott said the victims reportedly lived most of the time in Columbus, Mississippi, but stayed on the church grounds during weekends. Authorities also noted that some Moore family members attended the church.
Investigators say Moore stole another vehicle from the property and fled again.
Arrest at Roadblock and Weapons Recovered
Law enforcement finally stopped Moore at approximately 11:24 p.m., about four and a half hours after the initial reports began coming in. Authorities said he was taken into custody at a roadblock near Cedar Bluff.
Sheriff Scott said Moore was armed at the time of his arrest, and investigators recovered both a rifle and a handgun.
Officials say the family’s loss is almost impossible to put into words — three relatives killed at one location, a child killed at another, and two more victims connected to the church later that same night.
“For this family to lose this many family members in one setting is hard to imagine,” Sheriff Scott said.
As news spread, the mother of Kiyla shared a heartbreaking post about trying to find the strength to grieve publicly while also preparing for the unimaginable.
“I’m finally getting enough strength to even make this post,” Lashanna Guines wrote. “I never thought I would be going through this or even making funeral arrangements for one of my children — especially my baby girl… My heart is shattered into pieces… I have so many questions.”
She described Kiyla as a child who brought joy to everyone around her — a light in her family that was stolen far too soon.
The Mississippi State Medical Examiner is conducting autopsies on all six victims. Prosecutors have indicated the state plans to pursue multiple capital charges. Moore remains in custody at the Clay County jail as investigators continue their investigation.
