FOG BLOG U.S. NEWS LOG: CAR PLOWS INTO CHRISTMAS PARADE IN WAUKESHA WISC. 5 KILLED , MANY INJURED!
Police identify the driver they say plowed into a Waukesha Christmas parade, leaving 5 dead and 48 injured....Authorities in Wisconsin have identified the driver of a red SUV who they say intentionally drove his SUV through barricades and into a crowd celebrating the Waukesha Christmas parade.
Darrell E. Brooks Jr., 39, is believed to have acted alone Sunday and is the only suspect, Waukesha Police Chief Dan Thompson said Monday. Brooks faces five counts of first-degree intentional homicide, with additional charges based on the investigation, Thompson said.
Brooks had been released from jail less than two weeks ago in a domestic abuse case, on a $1,000 bail that prosecutors recommended and now say was "inappropriately low."
Brooks will have his initial court appearance at 4 p.m. CT Tuesday at which initial charges will be filed, according to a statement from the Waukesha County District Attorney's Office. The hearing will be available via livestream for the public to view.
"We are working closely with the City of Waukesha Police Department to review the matter and decide what criminal charges will be issued," read the statement.
Thompson said Brooks was involved in a domestic disturbance with another person just prior to driving his SUV through the parade Sunday afternoon. Police were not able to respond to the initial call about the domestic incident because they had to respond to the parade so quickly after receiving the call, the chief said.Police stressed there was no police pursuit leading up to the incident...Thompson said there is no information that Brooks knew anyone in the parade.
Five people were killed in the incident. They ranged from age 52 to 81 years old, Thompson said.
The city identified the victims as:
Virginia Sorenson, 79
LeAnna Owen, 71
Tamara Durand, 52
Jane Kulich, 52
Wilhelm Hospel, 81
The police chief acknowledged the heroism of onlookers at the scene, saying first responders and residents worked together to triage the victims and get them as stable as possible.
He said officers and citizens took victims to the hospital in their personal vehicles.
At least 18 children were hospitalized after the parade, said Children's Wisconsin, a pediatric hospital in nearby Milwaukee.
Thompson said the incident is not a terrorist event. The crash also does not appear to be connected to the recent verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial in Kenosha, Wisconsin, according to multiple law enforcement sources familiar with preliminary investigation findings..
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