Additional Charges Made Against Darrell Brooks in Waukesha Parade Attack

Detective and witness Thomas Casey took the stand to describe the Waukesha Christmas parade tragedy. Casey had blocked off the streets for the parade and was assigned traffic control. While the parade was underway at around 4:30 p.m, Casey heard a horn honking north of him, followed by a red SUV hurling towards him.

Additional charges were made against Darrell Brooks, defendant in the Waukesha parade attack. He was previously charged with just five counts of homicide, a sixth charge for first-degree intentional homicide appeared on the amended complaint, as well as charges 7 through 77, all charging Brooks individually with first-degree reckless endangerment. These amendments went to trial to determine if Brooks drove the vehicle with intention to harm.

Casey started yelling at the vehicle to stop but the SUV slowly started driving into him, at this time he moved to the side of the vehicle and began pounding on the driver’s side window. He confirmed that the driver was Brooks. The defendant continued to drive into the parade, despite multiple police officers trying to intervene. He plowed through the parade, striking and running people over, seemingly “intentionally increasing speed as the crowds grew larger,” according to Casey.

Six people received fatal injuries, and about 60 other people were seriously hurt; those who were hit without fatal injuries received multiple fractures and road rash. The victims were Virginia Sorenson, 79, LeAnna Owen, 71, Tamara Durand, 52, Jane Kulich, 52, Wilhelm Hospel, 81, and Jackson Sparks, 8. Three of those killed were members of parade act Dancing Grannies.

The defense questioned if Brooks avoided people in the parade, which Casey claims that it seems as if Brooks was avoiding other vehicles but intentionally running citizens over. After multiple attempts by the police to get the defendant to stop driving, Brooks eventually abandoned the vehicle and started running on foot. Police arrested Brooks and took him into custody where they noticed he was under the influence of marijuana.

The defendant refused to view photos and videos of the incidents, “I didn’t mean to kill anybody,” said Brooks. Waukesha County Court Commissioner Kevin Costello concluded that there is “ample evidence” to show that Brooks committed felonies. Brooks pleaded not guilty on all counts.