Waukesha Christmas Parade Attack: 71 New Charges Filed

Waukesha WI

12 January, 2022

4:39 PM

Description

WAUKESHA, WI — A criminal complaint has been amended to include 71 new charges against a man accused of driving an SUV through Waukesha's Christmas Parade on Nov. 21, killing six people. Darrell Brooks Jr., 39, had been charged with six counts of first-degree intentional homicide stemming from the events of Nov. 21. Brooks' bail remains at $5 million cash. The existing and new charges, according to online court records, include: First-degree intentional homicide (six counts).First-degree recklessly endangering safety (61 counts).Hit and run-resulting in death (six counts).Felony bail jumping (two counts).Misdemeanor battery (two counts). Brooks is scheduled to appear in court on Friday morning for a preliminary hearing. Jackson Sparks, 8, was the youngest victim to die from the violence. Five others — Virginia Sorenson, 79, LeAnna Owen, 71, Tamara Durand, 52, Jane Kulich, 52, and Wilhelm Hospel, 81 — were also killed. More than 60 people were injured, including children. Parade participants had filled both White Rock Avenue and East Main Avenue along the parade route when the scene turned deadly. Paradegoers were spreading apart when a detective saw a red Ford Escape southbound on White Rock Avenue. People began jumping out of the way of the SUV, the complaint said. Brooks struck numerous pedestrians, including parade participants and spectators lined along the street, the complaint said. The officer saw the SUV appear to be intentionally moving side to side, striking multiple people, and bodies and objects were flying in the air, the complaint said. Another officer shot at and struck the car three times in an effort to make it stop, the complaint said. The preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9:15 a.m. in Waukesha County Circuit Court. This story is developing.