Wisconsin authorities identified the SUV driver, and according to them, he intentionally drove his car through barricades in the street and into a crowd celebrating the Waukesha Christmas parade. The suspect, Darrell E. Brooks Jr. was believed to act alone Sunday at the fatal incident, according to Waukesha Police Chief Dan Thompson. The police charged five counts of first-degree intentional homicide, with other charges on the investigation.
Less than two weeks ago, he has released from jail in a domestic abuse case on one thousand dollars bail that the prosecutor recommended. The police also said that he killed five people aged between fifty-two and eighty-one and injured forty-eight others, including kids. Furthermore, Waukesha police noted that the parade’s incident was not an act of terrorism. Grandparents and many schoolchildren were among the victims.
The suspect in the #Waukesha Christmas parade attack has been identified by multiple sources as Darrell E. Brooks, black male, late 30s.
He has a long criminal rap sheet and is also a registered sex offender. pic.twitter.com/5SD9OE1JEY
— Mr.Mugen (@iam_mugen) November 22, 2021
What are the names of the victims?
The police share the names of victims with their ages. The following are the victims of the deadly incident:
- Tamara Durand, 52
- Jane Kulich, 52
- LeAnna Owen, 71
- Virginia Sorenson, 79
- Wilhelm Hospel, 81
In addition, the victims include members of the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies, who were regular fixtures in the parades of the city. The group wrote in a Facebook statement that their group was performing in front of crowds in the Christmas parade, putting smiles on faces of all ages. Died performers were extremely passionate Grannies.
Several people are still in the hospital and receiving treatment, including surgeries. The police officials also said that first responders and residents took the injured to six different hospitals. On Monday, the Children’s Wisconsin pediatric hospital told reporters that they admitted 18 kids. Health care providers described the incident as one of the most significant fatality events of the state involving kids in recent history.
Physicians stated that some injured children sustained broken bones and severe head injuries. Medical staff said that the wounded range in age from three to sixteen and include three sets of siblings. Moreover, ten children required special treatment in the ICU. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee expressed that one of its priests, several students, and parishioners at a local Catholic school were also among the injured people.
Who was the suspect?
Dan Thompson, the city police chief, told reporters at a press conference that a single person drove his maroon SUV through blockades and into a crowd of people performing the Waukesha Christmas parade. Further, he added that an officer had fired at the SUV car but failed to stop due to a vast number of people on the street.
Additionally, earlier media reports suggested brooks was escaping a knife fight, but police still have not confirmed those details. Likewise, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspaper reported that at the moment, Brooks is facing at least five other criminal charges like domestic abuse and battery. The suspect is from the city of Milwaukee, around twenty-four kilometers east of Waukesha.
Source: Web
One video shared on a social media platform shows the vehicle crashing at high speed through street barricades, while another video shows the car driving into what looks like a group of musicians. Police officers ran down to control the situation during the incident and told people to shelter in shops.
Joe Biden, the President of the United States, shared his condolences for the victims and their families and said that he was monitoring the situation very closely. Tony Evers, the governor of Wisconsin, ordered flags to be flown half-staff all over the state in honor of the parade victims. The officials also created community funds to help victims of the incident and their families. Furthermore, they also assured the availability of counseling services for the affected ones.
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