In northeastern Mississippi, law enforcement officers arrested 24-year-old Dariku M. Moore on suspicion of murdering six people. The victims of a series of shootings that occurred in the rural community of Cedarbluff on Saturday night were four relatives of the suspect and two adults. Among the dead is Moore's 7-year-old second cousin. This is reported by AP, writes UNN.
Details
According to Clay County Sheriff Eddie Scott, the attacks occurred at three different locations. Investigators determined that the suspect deliberately targeted members of his family. In one of the houses where the child died, Moore also threatened another small child with a pistol, holding the weapon to her head. It is currently unknown whether the pistol malfunctioned or whether the attacker changed his mind about shooting.
I don't know what motive you could have to kill a 7-year-old child
Legal consequences and suspect's profile
Dariku M. Moore has been officially charged with first-degree murder. Given the gravity of the crime and the presence of a minor victim, the charges may be reclassified to those carrying the death penalty. Prior to the investigation of this case, the man had no criminal record and was not on the radar of law enforcement agencies.
Evidence and testimony indicate that Moore acted alone. He is currently in custody, and his first court appearance is scheduled for Monday, January 12. The investigation continues to ascertain the motives for the act that shocked the local community.