WAUKESHA, Wis. — A Wisconsin man who mowed over Christmas parade participants on Sunday is officially charged with five counts of first-degree intentional homicide, police said during a Monday press conference.
Speaking with emotion, Waukesha Police Chief Daniel Thompson said investigators have ruled out terrorism as a motive for the mass murder, while confirming that career criminal Darrell Brooks has now been charged, New York Post reported.
“The subject was taken into custody a short distance from the scene and we are confident he acted alone,” Thompson told reporters. “There is no evidence that this is a terrorist incident.”
Many press stories had Brooks fleeing the scene of a previous crime when he came across the parade. Chief Thompson said the suspect was involved in an unrelated “domestic incident” before to the attack but left the location prior to police arrival.
The chief also confirmed that one Waukesha officer opened fire on the suspect vehicle as it mowed over unsuspecting people marching in the parade.
With his voice cracking from emotion, Thompson identified the five people killed. They included Virginia Sorenson, 79; LeAnna Owen, 71; Tamara Durand, 52; Jane Kulich, 52; and Wilhelm Hospel, 81, the Post reported.
The murder victims are members of the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies, the group said in a Facebook post, adding they were “devastated by this terrible tragedy.”
The chief said there are 48 individuals who suffered injuries due to the savage criminal act.
Among the injured are six children who are now in critical condition at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. Moreover, three others are in serious condition, according to hospital officials.
In all, the hospital is treating 18 children between 3 and 16, including three sets of siblings, according to hospital officials.
Dr. Amy Drendel, medical director of the hospital’s emergency department, said the injures range from scrapes to broken bones and serious head injuries — with eight youngsters undergoing surgery Sunday and Monday.
Two days prior to the mass murder, Brooks posted $1,000 bond on a case where he is accused of running over the mother of his child with his car, Law Officer reported.
The Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office admitted Monday that Brooks should not have been out on such a low bond.
“The most recent case against Mr. [Darrell] Brooks was appropriately charged,” the office said, noting on Nov. 5 the office charged Brooks with Second Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety, Felony Bail Jumping, Battery, Obstructing an Officer and Disorderly Conduct. “The State made a cash bail request in this case of $1,000, which was set by the court. The defendant posted $1,000 cash bail on November 11, resulting in his release from custody.”
“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,” the letter continued. “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.”
Sadly, the admission of ineptitude will not help the people murdered and maimed by Brooks. People talk about the “broken system.” Police officers can testify time and time again that what is “broken” is that we cannot keep career criminals like Brooks in custody. Regardless of new cases daily that support the “brokenness,” violent criminals are continually given dozens of chances to change their wicked ways, but don’t.
Consequently, society is routinely victimized by criminals who should be locked up, particularly at a time in American history when law enforcement officers have been severely harnessed, primarily due to intimidation and scare tactics that have created flawed laws and policies.
And now we have a horrific case like this in Waukesha that illustrates how good people are victimized when the “system” refuses to do its job and protect the vulnerable from career criminals like Brooks.
In case you’re wondering, this is Brooks criminal history, according to the State of Wisconsin Department of Justice.
Darrell Brooks arrest history
It shows these arrests, many of which were dismissed.
1999
Arrested carry concealed weapon
Charge severity: non-criminal
1999
Arrested aggravated battery – great harm (felony) – dismissed
Carrying a concealed weapon (non-criminal) – disposition not reported
2000
Aggravated battery – intent great harm – felony – convicted. Probation
Fourth entry
Carry concealed weapon – non-criminal – disposition not reported
Loitering – non-criminal – disposition not reported
Resisting – misdemeanor – dismissed
Cocaine possession – misdemeanor
2002
Resisting – non-criminal
Take and drive vehicle without consent, habitual criminal, felony – dismissed, no prosecution
THC possession, felony
2003
Resisting – misdemeanor – convicted
2005
Resisting – misdemeanor
Receiving stolen property – misdemeanor – dismissed
Possess controlled substance – dismissed
2009
Paternity warrant, non-criminal
Resisting officer, non-criminal
Resisting – misdemeanor – convicted
2010
Felony strangulation and suffocation – domestic abuse – amended complaint filed
convicted
Misdemeanor battery – DV – dismissed
Criminal damage to property – dismissed, read-in
2011
Probation violation, felony – hold for probation authorities
Extradition request – disposition not reported
Resisting – convicted
Failure to appear
THC possession
Paternity warrant
Possess with intent to deliver THC – convicted possession
Bail jumping – convicted
2012
Probation violation – turned over to probation authorities
Bail jumping felony – no prosecution
Failure to appear (multiple)
Bail jumping misdemeanor (2 counts) – no prosecution
Resisting – no prosecution
Extradition
Possess THC felony – case dismissed
2020
Firearm convicted of out of state felony – charge issued
Endangering safety domestic abuse, reckless use of firearm – charge issued
Possession of meth – dismissed
2021
Paternity warrant – non-criminal
Open cases
Brooks also has multiple open cases. Those cases, filed on November 5, 2021, include resisting an officer, felony bail jumping, second degree recklessly endangering safety with domestic abuse assessments, disorderly conduct and battery, Law Officer reported.
He posted $1,000 bail (previously mentioned) on November 19, 2021. At the time of posting bail, he had another open felony case in Milwaukee County. That case is for two counts of recklessly endangering safety with a weapon, and felon in possession of a firearm.
