WAUKESHA, Wis. — Officials on Monday identified the 39-year-old man in custody after police said he drove his SUV into a Wisconsin Christmas parade Sunday evening, killing five people and injuring at least 48 others.
What You Need To Know
- Police arrested 39-year-old Darrell Brooks in the Waukesha Christmas Parade incident that left five people dead and nearly 50 people injured
- Waukesha Police Chief Dan Thompson said police are recommending five counts of first-degree homicide and anticipate additional charges
- The SUV that was seen speeding through the parade was later recovered a short distance from the scene
- Medical officials from the Children’s Wisconsin Hospital-Milwaukee said 18 children were admitted following the incident
Waukesha Police Chief Dan Thompson identified the man as Darrell Brooks, of Milwaukee. Police said they are recommending five counts of intentional first-degree homicide. Additional charges are anticipated.
Booking photo for Darrell Brooks from his booking on November 03, 2021. (Courtesy: Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office)
Thompson said there is no evidence it was a terrorist attack and Brooks “intentionally” drove his car through barricades into the crowd of people at the Christmas parade after fleeing the scene of a domestic incident. Authorities said they took Brooks into custody a short distance from the scene.
At 4:39 p.m. CST Sunday, a red SUV was seen on videos, from multiple witnesses at the scene, barreling through police barriers and speeding into the roadway where the parade was taking place in Waukesha. Police later recovered the damaged SUV.
A Waukesha police officer, who has not been identified, fired his gun to try and stop the vehicle from fleeing. No bystanders were injured as a result of the officer’s shots.
Prior to Sunday’s incident, there were multiple pending charges against Brooks in Milwaukee County, Milwaukee District Attorney John Chisholm confirmed. In the most recent, on Nov. 5, Brooks was charged with recklessly endangering safety, felony bail jumping, battery, obstructing an officer and disorderly conduct.
He was released on $1,000 cash bail on Nov. 11, but Chisholm’s office noted the bail was “inappropriately low.”
“The state’s bail recommendation in this case was inappropriately low in light of the nature of the recent charges and the pending charges against Mr. Brooks,” Chisholm’s office said. “The bail recommendation in this case is not consistent with the approach of the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office toward matters involving violent crime, nor was it consistent with the risk assessment of the defendant prior to setting of bail.”
An internal review of the bail recommendation decision is under way.
On Monday morning, medical officials from the Children’s Wisconsin Hospital-Milwaukee said 18 children were admitted following the incident, ages ranging from three to 16 years old. Six patients are in critical condition and two have since been discharged.
There are also three sets of siblings being cared for at their location, officials said.
The Waukesha Christmas Parade, held each year on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, is sponsored by the city’s Chamber of Commerce. This year’s event, the 59th, had the theme of “Comfort and joy.”
The Waukesha school district canceled classes Monday and Tuesday, and said extra counselors would be on hand for students and staff. The parade’s list of participants included cheer, dance and band entries associated with district schools.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said he and his wife were “praying for Waukesha […] and all the kids, families, and community members affected by this senseless act.”
