A Mississippi man accused of killing six people, including a 7-year-old girl, pleaded not guilty Monday to charges that include capital murder in Clay County, according to court proceedings reported by WTVA-TV and relayed by the Associated Press.
Daricka M. Moore entered not guilty pleas to 11 charges during the hearing, the story said. Because he was charged with capital murder, he was ineligible for bail under state law, and Clay County Circuit Judge Jim Kitchens ordered a mental evaluation, AP reported.
Kitchens appointed Clarissa Harris as Moore’s defense lawyer. Harris did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment, the report said.
Assistant District Attorney Trina Davidson-Brooks said first-degree murder charges are expected to be upgraded to capital murder, and District Attorney Scott Colom intends to seek the death penalty, according to the AP story. A trial date had not been set.
Moore, 24, is accused of killing his father, brother, uncle, a 7-year-old cousin, a church pastor and the pastor’s brother at three locations late Friday, AP reported. He was arrested at a police roadblock in Cedarbluff just before midnight after dozens of local, state and federal officers flooded the area, the report said.
Clay County Sheriff Eddie Scott said at a Saturday news conference that evidence and witnesses indicate Moore was the only shooter. No other injuries were reported, and authorities had not indicated why they believe Moore would have committed the shooting, AP said.
Investigators said Moore first killed his father, Glenn Moore, his brother, Quinten Moore, and his uncle, Willie Ed Guines, at the family’s mobile home. The sheriff said Moore then allegedly stole his brother’s truck and drove a few miles to a cousin’s house, where he forced his way in and attempted to commit sexual battery.
Sheriff Scott said Moore put a gun to the head of a 7-year-old girl and fatally shot her. Family members identified the girl as Mikylia Guines. Scott said that according to witnesses, Moore then placed a gun against a younger child’s head, but the child was not shot, and it was not clear whether Moore did not pull the trigger or the gun misfired.
Authorities said Moore then allegedly drove to the Apostolic Church of The Lord Jesus, broke into a residence, killed the pastor and his brother, and stole one of the vehicles. The sheriff said Rev. Barry Bradley and Samuel Bradley lived most of the time in nearby Columbus but spent weekends on church grounds, and he said some Moore family members attend the church.
After the hearing, Edith Watkins Bradshaw told The Dispatch, “Where there’s unity, there’s power (and) there’s love,” adding that “No matter what, we’re family” and that even Daricka Moore is “still a human being” and that “we know that love will get us through.” Rene Guines McMillian said, “Our family will never be the same, but we’re going to be stronger because of this.”