Waukesha Christmas parade news – Darrell Brooks video revealed after attack as crash victim death toll at 6
THE suspect in the Waukesha Christmas parade rampage could be charged with a sixth murder after an eight-year-old died from his injuries on Tuesday.
Jackson Sparks had been hospitalized after Darrell Edward Brooks, 39, drove his SUV through the crowd at a Wisconsin holiday event.
His death was revealed by an attorney in Brooks's first court appearance on Tuesday, where the suspect rocked back and forth and slumped in his chair as he was charged.
His bail was set for $5million after the prosecution listed his lengthy criminal record and said that the sixth murder charge could be on its way
Brooks was detained Monday after being detained by Waukesha cops close to the scene.
The other five victims were named on Monday as Virginia Sorenson, 79; LeAnna Owen, 71; Tamara Durand, 52; Jane Kulich, 52, and Wilhelm Hospel, 81.
Read our live blog below for the latest news and updates...
DARREN BROOKS 'WAS ALWAYS A LITTLE OFF,' SAYS NEIGHBOR
Darrell Brooks "was always a little off," one neighbor, who didn't want to be identified, exclusively told The Sun at his home in Wisconsin after the car was seen plowing into the festive crowd, filled with elderly people and kids.
"I didn't know him more than 'hi and bye' but I remember seeing that red truck parked there," they said.
"He must've snapped," another neighbor Ebony told The Sun. "The whole thing is messed up but it doesn't surprise me."
POLICE SAY 'THIS WAS AN INTENTIONAL ACT'
According to the criminal complaint filed against Brooks on Monday, it was clear to police officers that "this was an intentional act to strike and hurt as many people as possible."
Darrell appeared in court for the first time on Tuesday and his bail was set at $5million.
He was reportedly fleeing the scene of a domestic violence disturbance just before the crash, investigators say.
PICTURED: ABANDONED PARADE ITEMS
Items that were abandoned along the parade route wait to be collected at the Park, Rec and Forestry Department, after a car plowed through a holiday parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
Credit: Cheney Orr
WHAT SENTENCE IS DARRELL BROOKS FACING?
Prosecutors said a sixth count of homicide will be added Friday or early next week, following the death of eight-year-old Jackson Sparks, and other charges could be added.
Each count carries a maximum of life in prison, so if he’s convicted, Brooks could serve five or six consecutive life sentences.
Bail was set at $5million.
VIRGINIA SORENSON, 79, REMEMBERED BY HUSBAND OF 56 YEARS
Virginia “Ginny” Sorenson, 79, was a registered nurse and a 19-year veteran of the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies, a group for grandmothers in their 50s to 70s.
She was an instructor and choreographer for the group, and often helped newcomers and veterans with their routines.
Virginia, who had been a member of the dance group for 19 years, was holding a banner near the rear of the group when she was fatally struck.
In a statement, her husband of 56 years, David Sorenson discussed the mother-of-three’s love for the group.
“What did she like about it? Everything. She liked the instructing. She liked the dancing and the camaraderie of the women. She liked to perform.”
FATAL DAY WAS TAMARA DURAND’S FIRST DANCING GRANNIES PARADE
Tamara Durand, 52, was a former Beaver Dam resident and also a member of the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies.
It was the first time the hospice and critical care chaplain had performed with the dance group.
Her last Facebook post just hours before her death was a picture of her beaming while holding white pompoms and wrapped up in a winter coat and hat ready for the parade.
She wrote: “HERE WE GO!’ First Milwaukee Dancing Grannies parade! So excited!”
Tamara is said to have saved a homeless man from drowning in the Wisconsin River in 2009.
SUSPECT’S MOM IS ‘TRAUMATIZED AND HURT’
The “traumatized” mom of the Waukesha parade suspect called 911 when she saw her red Ford truck on TV news reports as it plowing through crowds, The Sun can reveal.
Darrell Brooks‘ mom broke her silence and made her first statement through a family spokesperson in an exclusive interview with The Sun Tuesday evening, just hours after her son was officially charged with five counts of intentional homicide.
“She talked to him before he went to Waukesha and doesn’t know why he did this and doesn’t condone his actions,” family spokesperson Frank Nitty told The Sun.
“I spoke to her for hours. She’s traumatized and hurt and wants each victim of her son’s actions to know that her thoughts and prayers are with them.”
HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE INJURED?
At least 62 people were injured – including 12 kids – in the tragedy as families and performers were celebrating an annual holiday event.
Officials said Monday 18 children were treated at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin following the rampage.
VICTIM’S BROTHER SUFFERED HEAD TRAUMA, EXPECTED TO RECOVER
Jackson Spark’s 12-year-old brother Tucker is still hospitalized and recovering from a fractured skull, but is expected to survive.
“Tucker, by the grace of God is miraculously recovering from his injuries and will be being discharged home,” said a Facebook post by Life Point Church.
EIGHT-YEAR-OLD BOY DIES FROM INJURIES SUFFERED FROM ATTACK
Authorities have announced that a sixth person, an eight-year-old boy, has died from injuries sustained at a Waukesha parade, as police documents say “emotionless” suspect “zig-zagged” through the crowd.
Jackson Sparks succumbed to his injuries Monday, according to a post by a local church cited by
The boy had undergone brain surgery and the family was hoping for a miracle, according to a set up for the family.
MOM RECALLS ATTACK, PART TWO: ‘EVERYONE IS JUST RUNNING’
She added: “Everyone is just running for their lives. We think that the guy who just drove through the parade has a gun and now he’s on the loose, shooting around and it’s an active shooter situation now.”
The mother recalls quickly grabbing her daughter so she wouldn’t get hurt and how everyone was running into her sister’s apartment complex for cover.
“Everyone’s clutching their children and family members were running into the building trying to squeeze in and someone’s yelling ‘he got a gun, he got a gun’,” she said.
“We see this red SUV zooming right past all of us, barely missing a photographer, barely missing children, barely missing my sister who is sitting on the edge of the curb,” the mom recalled.
“He just continues on, doesn’t stop and everyone is confused.”
MOM RECALLS PARADE ATTACK: ‘IT WAS JUST SHEER PANIC’
A mom captured the horrific scene as the rampage unfolded at the festive event in Wisconsin on Sunday.
The woman was at the event with her three-year-old daughter and two sisters when they suddenly started “running for our lives” as gunshots rang out.
“All of a sudden, I hear people screaming and running, I look up and everyone’s running and someone’s saying ‘he got a gun’ and everyone starts bolting towards the front door of my sister’s complex. It was just sheer panic,” the woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, exclusively told The Sun.
‘YOU DON’T DO WELL UNDER PRESSURE,’ SAYS JUDGE
Addressing a sobbing Brooks, the judge at Tuesday’s hearing criticized the “smallish bails” that have been set for previous crimes.
“You don’t do well under pressure,” the judge said.
“You don’t respond well to what is common sense within our community.”
Brooks was out on bail for a different crime when he drove into the Christmas parade.
“Those smallish bails you were out on didn’t do very well,” the judge said.
WHEN DID DARRELL BROOKS APPEAR IN COURT?
Darrell Brooks made his first court appearance on Tuesday following the Waukesha Christmas parade attack.
He was seen rocking back and forth in his chair while listening to the charges being levied against him.
PICTURED: WAUKESHA MEMORIAL
People embrace while visiting a memorial the morning after the sixth victim Jackson Sparks, 8, passed away inside Children's Hospital of Wisconsin as a result of injuries sustained when a car plowed through a holiday parade, in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
Credit: Cheney Orr
JESSALYN TORRES, 11, IS FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE
One of the child victims was Jessalyn Torres, 11, who was taking part in the parade with the Waukesha Xtreme Dance group.
She remains in hospital fighting for her life with a broken pelvis and lost a kidney, she also has lacerations on her lungs and remaining kidney and suffered from internal bleeding.
Ryan Kohnke, Jessalyn's uncle, exclusively told The Sun: "Her mom and dad are with her now at the hospital, they will not be leaving her side. The rest of us are going to make sure the other kids are taken care of throughout this.
SUSPECT SHOWED OFF SUV IN YOUTUBE VIDEOS
Videos posted on YouTube by Brooks appear to show the same car that plowed into the parade.
The first three letters on the license plate ADP and the vehicle's description are the same as reportedly heard on the police scanner.
Court documents link Brooks to the address in Milwaukee where he was arrested.
VICTIM'S BROTHER SUFFERED HEAD TRAUMA, EXPECTED TO RECOVER
Jackson Sparks, an eight-year-old boy, died from injuries sustained at the Waukesha parade.
Jackson's 12-year-old brother Tucker is still hospitalized and recovering from a fractured skull, but is expected to recover.
"Tucker, by the grace of God is miraculously recovering from his injuries and will be being discharged home," said the Facebook post by Life Point Church.
EIGHT-YEAR-OLD BOY DIES FROM INJURIES SUFFERED FROM ATTACK
Authorities have announced that a sixth person, an eight-year-old boy, has died from injuries sustained at a Waukesha parade, as police documents say "emotionless" suspect "zig-zagged" through the crowd.
Jackson Sparks succumbed to his injuries Monday, according to a post by a local church cited by
The boy had undergone brain surgery and the family was hoping for a miracle, according to a set up for the family.
PRIOR CRIMINAL HISTORY, CONTINUED
In another case, filed in July 2020, Brooks is charged with reckless endangering and illegal possession of a firearm.
That came after a fight with his nephew in which his relative said Brooks “walked into the front yard with a gun and fired one shot at them,” reports.
In the more recent one, a woman -believed to be the mother of one of his children – told police that Brooks deliberately ran her over with his vehicle in a gas station parking lot after a fight. She was hospitalized for her injuries.
An arrest warrant for the November 2 incident obtained by The Sun says he punched the mother of one of his children “with a closed fist”.
The woman was left bloodied with tire marks on her clothing and a swollen lip, according to reports
BROOKS HAD PRIOR VIOLENT CRIME ARRESTS
Darrell Brooks is said to have a long criminal history, with 15 arrests since 1999 in Wisconsin alone.
Charges include possession of drugs, strangulation and suffocation and battery.
Court documents obtained by The Sun revealed Darrell Brooks was accused of running over the mother of his child in early November before making bail.
Additional court records show Brooks was facing a number of criminal charges in the run up the rampage.
In one case, filed November 5, he was charged with resisting or obstructing an officer, reckless homicide, disorderly conduct, bail jumping and battery.
He was ordered to not have any contact with a female victim and records show $1,000 bond was posted on Friday.
HOW MANY VICTIMS HAVE DIED FROM THE PARADE ATTACK?
Brooks, 39, is accused of speeding through a crowded Christmas parade on Sunday and killing six people and injuring about 60 more.
The sixth victim's death was made public during Tuesday's court appearance.
Jackson Sparks, eight, succumbed to his injuries Monday.
The other five victims have been named as Virginia Sorensen, 79, LeAnna Owen, 71, Tamara Durand, 52, Jane Kuilch, 52, and Wilhelm Hospel, 81.
According to the Waukesha medical examiner, all the victims died from blunt force trauma.
WHAT HAPPENED AT THE FIRST HEARING FOR DARRELL BROOKS?
Darrell Brooks was arrested on November 21 just moments after the 39-year-old allegedly plowed through a busy Christmas parade.
According to the criminal complaint filed against Brooks, it was clear to police officers that "this was an intentional act to strike and hurt as many people as possible."
Darrell appeared in court for the first time on November 21 and his bail was set at $5million.
He was reportedly fleeing the scene of a domestic violence disturbance just before the crash, investigators say.
LOCAL DESCRIBES ARREST: 'THEY HAD HIM ON THE GROUND IN NO TIME'
It’s unknown if Brooks was arrested on Daniel Rider’s property but Rider says that the suspect didn’t struggle with police.
“From what I saw, he cooperated with police,” said Rider. “They had him on the ground in no time. I didn’t see a struggle at all. I heard some yelling but I don’t think it was much.”
Brooks was detained there and he reportedly complained of a sore shoulder as he was taken into custody.
He was charged with five counts of intentional homicide, a number that has increased to six.
BROOKS WAS 'POLITE' WHILE IN LOCAL RESIDENT'S HOME
Rider says Brooks was “polite” to him the entire time he was at his home.
“He even thanked me and said, ‘Thank you for showing me so much love here, man. Appreciate you warming me up.’”
However, once Rider kicked the man out of his home, he says Brooks became more aggressive, pounding on his door asking to be let back in because he forgot his ID.
Rider says he tried to find the ID but couldn’t find it and now believes Brooks was looking for an excuse to get back inside because he saw cops.