Rankin-Madison District Attorney Michael Guest issued the following press release:
Rankin County Man Convicted of Attempted
Murder for Shooting of Neighbor
Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Michael Guest announced today that Richard Moody pled guilty to attempted murder and was sentenced to 40 years in custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. The last twelve years of the sentence was suspended.
In the early morning hours of July 4, 2013, the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department responded to 144 Oak Street after a 911 call reported a shooting at the home. When officers arrived they entered the house and found the victim lying on the living room floor. The victim was in critical condition after suffering a gunshot wound to the left side of his face.
Deputies spoke to the victim’s girlfriend who was present at the time of the shooting. She told officers that she was asleep when she heard someone banging at the door of the residence. She then went down stairs and recognized Moody and let him in. Once in the house Moody pulled out a gun and fired two shots at the victim as he was lying on the couch. The second shot struck the victim in the face. She then fled to a neighbor’s house and called 911.
After learning that Moody was responsible officer went to his residence and placed him under arrest. Law enforcement recovered the weapon and performed a gun-shot residue test on Moody. Moody was advised of his rights and admitted to shooting the victim. Moody told officers that he and the victim had an altercation earlier in the day at the grocery store, and that the victim had threatened to shoot Moody’s dogs. After the altercation Moody then went home and began to drink. Moody stated that the more he drank the angrier he became, and that he decided to confront the victim. He armed himself with a .22 caliber pistol and went to the victim’s home where he fired two shots, one of which struck the victim.
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Guest stated, “In my many years of prosecuting I do not think I have seen a more senseless act of violence. Moody’s sole reason for confronting the victim was because of threats made to harm his dogs. Moody’s anger and intoxication led to go the victim’s house and shoot the victim as he lay defenseless on his couch. The actions of Moody are indefensible and inexcusable.”
Guest concluded, “Moody’s actions show that he is a danger to others and the public deserve to be protected from him. Moody attempted to take the life of another and would have been successful if not for the work of the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department and other first responders.”
District Attorney Michael Guest was sworn into office in January 2008 and represents the Twentieth Judicial District, Madison and Rankin Counties. For more information regarding the District Attorney’s office, please visit www.daguest.com
Defendant:
Name: Richard Dan Moody
Address: 157 Maple Street, Florence
Date of Birth: July 27, 1963
9 comments:
Looking at that sad picture I suspect this is a life sentence for him.
Like my Grandmother told me when I bought my first apartment building and told her it was full of white trash (whose dogs were destroying the place), "You'd better be careful! WHITE TRASH WILL KILL YOU OVER A DOG."
his dogs were threatened! was he to wait until they were killed? excessive punishment. some community service, probation is enough.
Right on cue, here comes 11:38 to prove what 11:18 what talking about.
It's a good thing he didn't sell cocaine to a crackhead. Add this to the list of crimes you are better off committing than selling cocaine. Trying to kill someone is better. Robbing a store with a gun is better. Stealing someone's car, mugging someone, breaking in and robbing a home -- all not as bad (in terms of the sentence) as selling Cocaine in Rankin County.
1:22... You crack me up. That's so true. What's a law bidin' gun totin' dog protectin' rankin countin' possed to do when his dogs is threaten? Shoot & kill the man! These ain't fightin words, they is shootin words!
What happened to the left side of this guys face? Is this the victim or the assailant?
Who would let this deranged sumbitch in their house in the middle of the night, 'banging on the door'?
Knew Moody and he was a troubled man. Witnessed his father commit suicide as a boy. Struggled all his life with this.
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