Behind the Horrific Multi-Victim Shooting in Clay County

CLAY COUNTY: In a quiet stretch of Mississippi countryside, a family gathering turned into a scene of unimaginable violence. Six people are dead following a shooting spree that Sheriff Eddie Scott says was carried out by 26-year-old Daricka M. Moore against his own blood relatives.

The most haunting aspect of the case for investigators is the lack of a clear motive. Moore, who has no previous criminal history, was not known to local police.

“I don’t know what kind of motive you could have to kill a 7-year-old,” Sheriff Scott stated. The young victim was Moore’s second cousin. The Sheriff’s Department is currently working to piece together the events leading up to the gunfire in the rural community of Cedarbluff.

The tragedy could have been even larger. According to Sheriff Scott, investigators believe Moore placed a handgun to the head of another small child in the residence where the seven-year-old died. While the trigger was likely pulled, investigators are examining the firearm to see if a mechanical failure saved the child’s life.

A mother and her third child were also in the house at the time of the shooting but managed to survive the ordeal. No other injuries were reported aside from the six fatalities.

While Moore is currently facing first-degree murder charges, the District Attorney and Sheriff’s office are expected to upgrade these to capital murder before his Monday court appearance. In Mississippi, the killing of multiple people in one incident or the killing of a child can often trigger capital charges, which carry the possibility of the death penalty.

“Prosecutors are moving quickly,” Scott said, noting that they hope to have the charges fully upgraded by the time Moore stands before a judge for his initial appearance.

As the investigation moves into its second phase, the community of West Point and the surrounding Cedarbluff area remain in mourning for a family decimated from within.