Jackson Sparks, 8, dies in hospital as brother heals from injuries after Waukesha attack
JACKSON Sparks died after the deadly tragedy at the Waukesha Christmas Parade on Sunday. His older brother, is still healing from his injuries.
His death was confirmed by the Life Point Church and via an update from a GoFundMe page made by members of his family.
The boy had undergone brain surgery and the family was hoping for a miracle.
“This afternoon, our dear Jackson’s sadly succumbed to his injuries and passed away,” read an update
Jackson’s 12-year-old brother, Tucker, has been recovering from his injuries and will be discharged back home, says the update.
“Any donation, large or small, is so appreciated and will make a big difference to the Sparks family,” read the GoFundMe donation page. “Aaron and Sheri are people of faith, so please continue to lift them and their boys in prayer. Even if you’re not able to give, please share their story.”
The family is asking for privacy in the wake of Jackson's death to mourn him as well as give Tucker the space to heal physically. The GoFundMe has greatly surpassed its goal of $20,000 and is now at over $200,000.
Five other people died from the attack. They have been identified as Virginia Sorenson, 79, LeAnna Owen, 71, Tamara Durand, 52, Jane Kulich, 42, and Wilhelm Hospel, 81.
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According to the Waukesha medical examiner, all the victims died from blunt force trauma.
Jessalyn Torres, 11, is fighting for her life with a broken pelvis and lost kidney, lacerations on her lungs and remaining kidney and internal bleeding
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Among the injured are also Romelia Perez and her 11-year-old daughter Camila, her husband told the New York Post.
According to the criminal complaint filed against Darrell 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.
BROOKS' CRIMINAL PAST
Brooks, who has a lengthy criminal history dating back to 1999, had been released on $1,000 bond just three weeks earlier after allegedly punching and attempting to run over his ex-girlfriend at a gas station.
Some of Brooks' neighbors described the 39-year-old as odd, strange and suggested he must have "snapped" before allegedly carrying out the horrific parade attack.
One of Brooks' neighbors, who asked not to be identified, told The Sun that the 39-year-old "was always a little off."
"I didn't know him more than 'hi and bye' but I remember seeing that red truck parked there," they said.
Brooks is also a registered sex offender in Nevada, having been convicted of having consensual sex with a 15-year-old girl in 2006, with whom he had a child. For that offense, he severed three years probation.
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A warrant was outstanding for his arrest in Nevada at the time of Sunday's attack for violating the state's sex crime laws in 2016. He allegedly skipped bail on the offense and fled the region.
Despite being detained in Wisconsin twice after that, Brooks managed to avoid being turned over to authorities in Nevada and obtained freedom on both occasions.
