The Mississippi man accused of killing six people in a shooting spree over the weekend pleaded not guilty on Monday.
During a Clay County hearing, Daricka M. Moore, 24, entered not guilty pleas to 11 charges, including capital murder, first-degree murder, attempted murder of a child, attempted sexual battery, burglary, and theft of a motor vehicle.
Moore is accused of killing his father, brother, uncle, 7-year-old cousin, a church pastor, and the pastor’s brother in incidents that sprawled across three different crime scenes on Friday evening.
In one of the incidents, Moore stole his brother’s truck and drove to a cousin’s house, where he forced his way in and attempted to commit sexual battery, according to Clay County Sheriff Eddie Scott. He then fatally shot his 7-year-old cousin, identified as Mikylia Guines, before allegedly proceeding to the Apostolic Church of The Lord Jesus and murdering the pastor and his brother.
Assistant District Attorney Trina Davidson-Brooks said first-degree murder charges are expected to be upgraded to capital murder, according to the Dispatch of Columbus. District Attorney Scott Colom intends to seek the death penalty.
The crime was not the only one that shook the state over the weekend. Hours after the shooting, an arsonist set fire to Mississippi’s oldest synagogue early Saturday morning, marking the latest act of targeted violence against Jews.
The FBI has confirmed that the accused suspect, identified as Stephen Spencer Pittman, targeted the location because of its “Jewish ties.” The suspect characterized the Beth Israel synagogue in the capital of Jackson as a “synagogue of Satan,” the FBI said in a court filing Monday.
Pittman’s father turned him in to the authorities after he saw burn marks on his son’s ankles, hands, and face, according to the agency’s affidavit. The son allegedly confessed to his father.
POLITICAL VIOLENCE ON THE RISE IN THE US: A TIMELINE OF KEY INCIDENTS
The fire in Jackson caused so much damage that the synagogue cannot host worship services for the time being, Beth Israel Congregation President Zach Shemper said Sunday.
“We are devastated but ready to rebuild,” he said.
