District Attorney Scott Colom intends to seek the death penalty. The judge ordered a mental evaluation for Moore and appointed a defense attorney at Monday’s hearing; no trial date has been set.
WEST POINT, Miss. — Daricka M. Moore, 24, pleaded not guilty Monday in Clay County Circuit Court to 11 criminal charges — including capital murder — in the killings of six people during a Friday night rampage through a rural area of northeastern Mississippi. The victims included Moore’s father, brother, uncle, a 7-year-old cousin, a church pastor, and the pastor’s brother. Because Moore faces capital murder charges, he is ineligible for bail under Mississippi state law.
District Attorney Scott Colom intends to seek the death penalty, The Dispatch of Columbus reported. Assistant District Attorney Trina Davidson-Brooks said first-degree murder charges are expected to be upgraded to capital murder. Clay County Circuit Judge Jim Kitchens ordered a mental evaluation for Moore and appointed Clarissa Harris as Moore’s defense attorney. No trial date has been set.
Charges
Moore faces 11 charges in total, including capital murder, first-degree murder, attempted murder of a child, attempted sexual battery, burglary, and theft of a motor vehicle, WTVA-TV reported.
The killings
Clay County Sheriff Eddie Scott said at a Saturday news conference that evidence and witnesses indicate Moore was the only shooter and that no other injuries were reported. Authorities have not indicated why they believe Moore committed the shootings.
Investigators believe Moore first killed his father, Glenn Moore, 67; his brother, Quinten Moore, 33; and his uncle, Willie Ed Guines, 55, at the family’s mobile home. Sheriff Scott said Moore then allegedly stole his brother’s truck and drove to a cousin’s house, where he forced his way in and attempted to commit sexual battery. Moore then fatally shot Mikylia Guines, 7, according to Scott. Family members identified the girl as Mikylia Guines. Witnesses told authorities that Moore placed a gun against a younger child’s head as well, but she was not shot; it was not clear whether he did not pull the trigger or the gun misfired.
Moore then allegedly drove to the Apostolic Church of The Lord Jesus, a small white frame church, where he broke into a residence and killed the Rev. Barry Bradley and Samuel Bradley, then stole one of their vehicles. The Bradleys lived most of the time in nearby Columbus but spent weekends on church grounds. Some Moore family members attend the church, Scott said.
Moore was arrested at a police roadblock in Cedarbluff just before midnight after dozens of local, state, and federal officers flooded the area.
Family statement
Edith Watkins Bradshaw, a cousin of the Moore family, spoke after Monday’s hearing.
“Where there’s unity, there’s power (and) there’s love,” Bradshaw said. ”… No matter what, we’re family. Even Daricka, he’s still our family. He’s still a human being. We still got to love him too, and we know that love will get us through.”
Rene Guines McMillian, another cousin of Daricka Moore, said: “Our family will never be the same, but we’re going to be stronger because of this.”