A Friday night killing spree left six dead in three locations in rural Mississippi, including a 63-year-old minister. Barry Bradley, pastor of Apostolic Church of the Lord Jesus in Cedar Bluff, was attacked in his home, shot in the head and killed.

Law enforcement officials have arrested and charged Daricka Moore, 24, with the murders. He acted alone, Clay County Sheriff Eddie Scott said in a conferencia de prensa Saturday.

scott, a 30-year veteran, described the case as “one of the toughest ones we had to work.”  According to the deputy, the northeastern Mississippi community is “really, really shaken” by the violent loss of life.

“It was really hard to have conversations other than prayers with everybody out there,” he said.

moore pleaded not guilty to 11 charges on Monday, including capital murder, first-degree murder, attempted murder of a child, attempted sexual battery, burglary and theft of a motor vehicle, WTVA-TV, Ch. 9 reported. Clay County Circuit Judge Jim Kitchens ordered a mental evaluation.

A trial date has yet to be set. Moore is ineligible for parole, because of the seriousness of the charges.

Clay County District Attorney Scott Colom said at the press conference that his office will likely seek the death penalty.

“Six people, one night, several different scenes,” Colom said. “It's about as bad as it gets.”

Family members targeted

Investigators do not yet have a motive for the murders. 

“I spoke to the family last night, and they just never would've believed that he would be capable of doing something like this,” Scott said on Saturday.

The sheriff’s office has been able to piece together a chronology of events. According to Scott, moore's violent night began at a mobile home in Cedar Bluff.

Moore allegedly killed his father, Glen Moore, 67, his uncle, Willie Ed Guines, 55, and his brother Quintin Moore, 33. Each man was shot in the head, Scott said. They were dead when police arrived.

Moore then stole his brother's Ford F-150 truck and drove to a cousin's house, Scott said. He allegedly forced his way into the home and “attempted to commit a sexual battery while armed with a handgun.” Mississippi Today reported that court documents list Mikiylia Guines, moore's 7-year-old second cousin, as the victim.

“I don't know what kind of motive you could have to kill a 7-year-old,” Scott said.

Moore then allegedly shot and killed Guines and tried to kill another child. The girl’s mother, who is Moore’s cousin, was in the house at the time with three children, according to the sheriff’s deputy.

Lashanna Guines, the girl's mother, told WTVA-TV she was there and watched her daughter die.

“And that's weighing heavy on my heart, because, you know, it may have been more, what if I did this, and what if I did that?” Guines said. “It would have been, you know, a better outcome, but I just don't know. I tried. I tried.”

Last stop at a pastor’s house

moore made his final stop at a house in western Clay County, Scott said.

Sheriff’s deputies reportedly found the Ford F-150 hidden behind the house. Investigators saw signs of forced entry into the home, and inside, found two more dead.

Moore allegedly shot both Barry Bradley and his brother, Samuel Bradley. The two were pronounced dead at the scene. Scott said it's unclear why they were targeted, but some of Moore's family members attended Bradley’s church. 

Moore was taken into custody at a nearby intersection.

“We all lift our hearts in prayer for the victims and families,” Scott said.

Scott said the sheriff's office had no previous run-ins with the suspect.

Bradley remembered for faith and joy

Según un archived biography on the church's website, Bradley followed God at an early age.

He helped found The Apostolic Church of the Lord Jesus Christ with another elder and built it “brick by brick.”

Bradley is a “man of God who stands on, preaches, and lives according to the Word of God,” the church said. Bradley was also known for his spirit of giving and the joy he had shepherding his flock.

One of Bradley's relatives posted a tribute on Facebook.

“The lives of my Uncles Reverand Barry Bradley and Sammy Bradley were taken too soon,” the relative said. “They were truly angels on earth, and now they have completed their mission and are headed to their heavenly home together.”

Liz Lykins is a correspondent covering religion news for El Informe Roys, WORLD Magazine, and other publications.