Suspect Charged in Wisconsin Christmas Parade Tragedy

39-year-old Darrell Brooks has been charged with five counts of intentional homicide after he plowed through a Waukesha, Wisconsin, Christmas parade Sunday, killing five people and injuring 48 others. He was taken into custody not too far from the scene after a police officer opened fire trying to stop the vehicle.

The victims killed in the attack include women aged 79, 71, 52 and 52, and a man, 81, was also killed. Two children are in critical condition following the attack.

Authorities say, Brooks, a local rapper, was fleeing a domestic incident involving a knife when he drove his SUV through the parade. Moments before the incident, police received a call about a domestic disturbance believed to be involving Brooks, but they had no time to respond to that call and fully investigate before Brooks plowed through the parade. Police Chief Dan Thompson said the incident was not an act of terrorism.

“We are confident he acted alone. There is no evidence that this is a terrorist incident,” he said.

Online records show Brooks has a lengthy criminal history. Earlier this month, he was charged with resisting an officer, bail jumping, 2nd degree recklessly endangering safety, disorderly conduct and battery. Other pending charges against Brooks stem from July 2020 which include second-degree recklessly endangering safety and felon in possession of a firearm. In 2011 Brooks was found guilty on a resisting/obstructing an officer charge. In 2010, he was found guilty on strangulation and suffocation felony charges, and in 1999, Brooks was found guilty on substantial battery-intend bodily harm.