- Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg won’t run for reelection, is interested in attorney general job KCRA Sacramento
- Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg won’t run for another term – Sacramento Business Journal The Business Journals
- Assemblyman Kevin McCarty announces run for Sacramento mayor: ‘I’ve always been a fighter for Sacramento’ KCRA Sacramento
- Darrell Steinberg was Mayor of Sacramento in times of crisis Sacramento Bee
- Steinberg was Sacramento’s most accomplished politician Sacramento Bee
- View Full Coverage on Google News
Tag Archives: Darrell
Darrell Brooks: Man who drove SUV into Waukesha Christmas parade found guilty of intentional homicide
CNN
—
Darrell Brooks was found guilty of six counts of first-degree intentional homicide on Wednesday for driving his SUV into a crowd of Christmas parade attendees in Waukesha, Wisconsin, last November, killing six people and wounding dozens more.
He faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison for the convictions.
Brooks, 40, also was convicted of 61 counts of recklessly endangering safety with the use of a dangerous weapon, six counts of fatal hit and run, two counts of felony bail jumping and one count of misdemeanor domestic battery – a clean sweep for the prosecution.
Brooks represented himself in court and has been combative throughout the trial, repeatedly speaking over the judge to make inane and outlandish arguments. Yet as the stream of guilty verdicts were read Wednesday, he looked down, put his head on his hands and sat silently.
The trial comes less than a year after he drove a red SUV through the crowd in Waukesha’s Christmas parade on November 21, killing an 8-year-old boy and several members of the “Dancing Grannies” group.
Brooks had been released from jail less than two weeks prior in a domestic abuse case, on a $1,000 bail that prosecutors later acknowledged was “inappropriately low.” In that case, he allegedly ran over a woman who said she’s the mother of his child, according to court documents.
Prosecutors said in closing arguments Tuesday he intentionally drove through the crowd at significant speeds and hit 68 individual parade-goers, turning a joyous afternoon into a horrific one.
‘It was zooming’: Man marching in parade describes SUV plowing through crowd
“He reached speeds of approximately 30 mph. That’s intentional. He plowed through 68 different people. 68. How can you hit one and keep going? How can you hit two and keep going?” Waukesha County District Attorney Susan Opper said.
“His intent I do have to prove, and I submit without any doubt there’s overwhelming evidence that this was an intentional act by Darrell Brooks and an act of utter disregard for human life.”
In his own closing arguments, Brooks attempted to raise questions about the vehicle and about his intent. He repeatedly said there had been “misconceptions” and “lies” told about him during the trial.
“I’ve never heard of someone trying to intentionally hurt someone while attempting to blow their horn while attempting to alert people of their presence,” Brooks said.
Jurors deliberated on Tuesday night for just under two hours and then resumed again on Wednesday morning.
In court, a series of videos and witnesses detailed the disturbing sights of the SUV ramming through the parade route.
“The band had just passed us, a red SUV … going maybe 30, 40 miles per hour, just went straight over the Waukesha South (high school) band,” said Kyle Jewell, a spectator who tried unsuccessfully to catch up to the SUV to stop it. “And it’s not like it stopped, it went over … it looked like it went in the air, like over a pretty big object, and it was just like a big old speed bump and kept going.”
Nicole White, who prosecutors said was the first person struck by Brooks’ vehicle, testified she sustained injuries to her spine and tailbone and suffered ligament damage to her right knee.
“I just remember being struck by the vehicle from behind on my back and then I fell to my knees and kind of rolled under the vehicle,” White said.
Brooks’ trial has been marked by his unusual decision to represent himself in court and his persistent disruptions. Throughout the trial, he has spoken over prosecutors and the judge, asked vague questions, challenged the court’s jurisdiction and declared “Darrell Brooks” is not his name.
Judge Jennifer Dorow has repeatedly removed Brooks from the court for his outbursts and placed him in a nearby courtroom, where he can communicate via a monitor and microphone which is most often muted.
On Tuesday, after removing him for the prosecution’s closing arguments due to interruptions, she called him “stubbornly defiant.”
“He continues to not respect the fact that a ruling has been made, and he wants to argue and reargue and reargue points that this court has already gone over,” she said.
Brooks previously pleaded not guilty by insanity, but his public defenders withdrew the insanity plea in September. The attorneys later filed a motion to withdraw from the case, and the judge ruled to allow Brooks to represent himself at trial.
Opper, the prosecuting attorney, told jurors in her closing arguments not to be distracted in their deliberations by Brooks’ conduct during the trial.
“You must not, not, not consider anything about Darrell Brooks other than his conduct in downtown Waukesha on the evening of November 21, 2021,” Opper told the jury. “Nothing he’s done before that, nothing he’s done since that. When you go back to that deliberation room, please obey Judge Dorow. Confine your comments to his conduct on November 21.”
Waukesha parade trial opening statements set for Thursday after judge denies Darrell Brooks’ request to adjourn
Waukesha parade trial comes after 6 killed, dozens injured after Darrell Brooks accused of driving through those marching
WAUKESHA, Wis. (WLS) — Opening statements are expected to get underway Thursday following delays in the Waukesha parade trial.
Darrell Brooks is asking a judge to adjourn the proceedings, saying he’s come down with COVID symptoms.
The man on trial for the Waukesha Christmas Parade attack says he has come down with COVID symptoms.
RELATED: Man accused of killing 6 in Waukesha holiday parade attack removed from court after outburst
Brooks is on trial for allegedly driving his SUV through the parade crowd last November killing six. The judge denied Brooks’ request to adjourn.
For the third day in a row, Brooks, who is representing himself was removed from the courtroom.
Last week the judge decided to allow Brooks to represent himself at trial, finding that he suffers from a personality disorder and faces an uphill fight against an experienced prosecutorial team but is mentally competent.
Copyright © 2022 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Wisconsin parade news – latest: Darrell Brooks ‘wanted to hit as many people as possible’ in Waukesha attack
Darrell Brooks appears in court following Wisconsin parade attack
Darrell Brooks was trying to strike “as many people as possible” when he raced his car through a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, on Sunday, authorities said in a criminal complaint.
The complaint filed on Tuesday describes Mr Brooks as having “no emotion” when he drove down the parade route, killing six people and wounding at least 47 others. Moments earlier, he was said to have fled from police responding to a call about a domestic dispute between him and another person.
Prosecutors plan to charge the 39-year-old with six counts of first-degree intentional homicide. He is being held on $5m bail.
More than $1.5m has been raised to support victims of the attack and their families. The six people killed are: Tamara Durand, Jane Kulich, Wilhelm Hospel, Leanna Owen, Virginia “Ginny” Sorenson, and Jackson Sparks.
Follow live updates below
To receive our free breaking news alerts direct to your inbox click here.
Brooks ‘polite’ to man who let him into his house
Daniel Rider let Darrell Brooks into his house to warm himself up before letting Brooks use the phone to call an Uber.
According to Mr Rider, he was unaware about the tragedy which had unfolded in Waukesha, Wisconsin, leaving six dead and more than 40 injured.
Describing his interaction with Brooks, Mr Rider said that he was “polite” to him the entire time he was at his home.
Mr Rider explained: “He even thanked me and said, ‘Thank you for showing me so much love here, man. Appreciate you warming me up,” reported The Sun.
However, Mr Rider went on to explain that Mr Brooks became increasingly aggressive, pounding on his door and asking to be let back in as he had apparently forgotten his ID.
Eleanor Sly25 November 2021 09:21
People gather at Waukesha memorial to remember victims
(REUTERS)
(REUTERS)
(REUTERS)
Eleanor Sly25 November 2021 08:50
Darrell Brooks had a history of domestic violence we should have taken seriously
Darrell Brooks — the man charged with driving his Ford SUV into a Christmas parade in Wisconsin with no clear motivation and killed six people — had a documented history of domestic violence.
He was a registered sex offender and, according to court documents, was out on bond for charges related to domestic abuse when the Waukesha tragedy happened.
He allegedly ran over a woman who says she is the mother of his child with his car.
Writes Kathleen N. Walsh:
Eleanor Sly25 November 2021 08:25
Brooks bail fundraiser removed from GoFundMe
The crowdfunding platform, GoFundMe, has removed a fundraiser which was created for Darrell Brooks in an effort to raise the $5 million required for his bail.
The fundraiser was removed from the platform because it violated the GoFundMe terms of service, FOX Business reported.
According to FOX Business a spokesperson for GoFundMe said: “Fundraisers with misuse are very rare, and we take all complaints very seriously. Our team works with law enforcement to report issues and assists them in any investigations they deem necessary.”
Eleanor Sly25 November 2021 08:03
Brooks had previously run over a woman at start of November
Darrell Brooks, the man accused of driving his SUV into a Wisconsin Christmas parade was a registered sex offender in Nevada.
As well as this, he had an active arrest warrant in that state, according to court records.
Court documents revealed that he allegedly ran over a woman who said that she is the mother of his child, earlier this month.
On 2nd November, Brookes is said to have run over the woman in his car whilst she was walking through the car park of a gas station.
The woman told authorities that she was the mother of his child, according to a criminal complaint.
Eleanor Sly25 November 2021 07:44
Rockford beefs up security, shuts down roads for parade
In the wake of the deadly incident, officials in Rockford are beefing up their security for the Stroll on State parade, which will be held this Saturday.
There will be more barricades placed at the perimeter of the event to keep any unauthorized vehicles from getting onto the parade route and festival grounds.
Authorities in Rockford will shut down Chestnut Street west of the Rock River and Walnut Street east of the river for vehicular traffic from 10.30 am until 9 pm on Saturday. An emergency lane will be created by security barricades between Church and North Second streets.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar25 November 2021 06:48
Three injured children go home from hospital as 10 remain under care of doctors
ICYMI: Three children injured in the Wisconsin Christmas parade attack will be at home for Thanksgiving after being released from hospital.
That leaves 10 children still in hospital care, with five in critical condition, two in fair condition and three in good condition, according to to Children’s Wisconsin hospital.
“We are thankful to share that three more kids injured on Sunday at the Waukesha parade will be home for Thanksgiving, where they will continue their recovery,” hospital officials said on twitter.
Graeme Massie25 November 2021 04:57
Dawn Woods, the mother of Darrell Brooks, regrets bailing him out of jail
Dawn Woods, the mother of Darrell Brooks, is regretting bailing him out of jail just a few days prior to the incident. Mr Brooks’ mother had posted a $1,000 bond for her son after he was accused of domestic violence and intentionally striking his former girlfriend with his car on 2 November.
“She’s wrecked that people were killed as a result and she’s like, ‘I’m blaming myself, because had I not bailed him out, this wouldn’t have happened’,” the former girlfriend, who shares a child with Mr Brooks, told The Post.
The woman said she had very little contact with the accused in the last 20 years. “He disappeared when my son was almost 3 months old. I’ve done all of this on my own, raised my child by myself,” she said.
She added their son has not interacted with his father since he was a baby.
“When I saw his picture online, I was like, ‘What the f***? I was embarrassed enough to have him as the father of my child beforehand, because he wasn’t taking care of him. What do you think I am now? Mortified,” the woman added.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar25 November 2021 04:53
City officials add extra precautions to Thanksgiving parades
ICYMI: Authorities in cities across the US are taking extra measures to ensure the safety of crowds at the city’s Thanksgiving Day parade in light of the events in Waukesha.
Detroit, Michigan; Waco, Texas; and Knoxville, Tennessee, are among the cities reviewing their safety plans, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Meanwhile, several towns across Wisconsin have cancelled upcoming holiday parades in the wake of Waukesha’s deadly attack.
Graeme Massie25 November 2021 03:56
Kathleen N. Walsh: We should have taken Brooks’ history seriously
ICYMI: In the wake of Mr Brooks arrest over Sunday’s Christmas parade attack, a slew of information emerged about his lengthy criminal past.
A registered sex offender, Mr Brooks has a serious of previous charges for domestic violence, including for allegedly trying to run the mother of his child over with his car on 5 November.
The Independent’s Kathleen N. Walsh writes: “To me, that is not surprising. What is surprising — or at least galling — is that we still do not take violence against women seriously when the correlation between domestic abuse and other violent crime seems so clear. That means that ultimately, everybody else is less safe.
“If the allegations against Brooks — that he had already used a vehicle to attempt to seriously injure a woman he’d been formerly in a relationship with — were considered more seriously, then perhaps five families wouldn’t be mourning the deaths of their loved ones today.”
Graeme Massie25 November 2021 03:11
Wisconsin parade news – latest: Darrell Brooks appears in court as prosecutors announce sixth Waukesha victim
Darrell Brooks appears in court following Wisconsin parade attack
Darrell Brooks appeared in court today for a preliminary hearing on charges for allegedly killing six people by ramming his car into a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, on Sunday evening.
Prosecutors revealed the death of a sixth victim, a child, during the hearing, where Mr Brooks bail was set at $5m.
The 39-year-old suspected driver, seen wide-eyed in a new mugshot released earlier in the day, was already facing five counts of first-degree intentional homicide, with a sixth expected in light of the newest death. He was allegedly involved in a “domestic dispute” moments prior to driving onto the parade route, and court records show he has an extensive rap sheet dating back to 1999.
Doorbell camera footage captured Mr Brooks waiting for an Uber outside a home roughly 20 minutes after he plowed through the parade. The homeowner said he invited Mr Brooks in for a sandwich before police arrived to arrest him.
At an emotional press conference on Monday, Waukesha Police Chief Daniel Thompson read out the names of those who had died: Virginia Sorenson, 79; LeAnna Owen, 71; Tamara Durand, 52; Jane Kulich, 52; and Wilhelm Hospel, 81.
The sixth victim was identified on Tuesday as eight-year-old Jackson Sparks, who was critically injured alongside his 12-year-old brother Tucker.
The names of injured victims – many of whom are children – continue to trickle out through online fundraisers seeking help with medical bills.
Read more:
Follow live updates below
To receive our free breaking news alerts direct to your inbox click here.
The moment before Darrell Brooks was arrested
ICYMI: Darrell Brooks was reportedly filmed by a doorbell camera waiting for an Uber roughly 20 minutes after he drove his SUV into the parade route, killing five and injuring dozens more.
Mr Brooks, who was arrested not long after the footage was captured on Sunday, told the homeowner Daniel Rider: “I called an Uber and I’m supposed to be waiting for it over here, but I don’t know when it’s coming”.
He adds: “Can you call it for me please? I’m homeless.”
Mr Rider, according to NBC News, invited Mr Brooks inside his home, and made a sandwich for the suspect.
“All of a sudden, I look outside my street and I see a few cop cars drive by and I’m getting extra nervous,” Mr Rider said. “Then the next thing you know, you see the cops with lights on him saying, ‘hands in the air, hands in the air.’”
The Independent’s Gino Spocchia reports:
Stuti Mishra24 November 2021 05:19
$1m raised to help victims’ medical and funeral costs
The tight-knit Waukesha community sprang into action after Sunday’s Christmas parade tragedy which claimed five lives, organising fundraising events, prayer vigils and opening a makeshift resource centre for the victims.
By Tuesday afternoon about $750,000 has been donated to GoFundMe pages set up by friends and family of the victims, while community and business fundraising efforts have collected another $200,000.
With hospital bills piling up, families have been forced to try to raise awareness and money for their loved ones, many of whom are facing months in hospital.
The Independent’s Bevan Hurley reports:
Stuti Mishra24 November 2021 04:05
Waukesha cops launch fundraiser with stuffed animal K9s
ICYMI: The Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department is raising money for victims of the Christmas parade attack by selling stuffed animals dressed like police K9s.
The plushie toys are available for $20 each with 100 per cent of all proceeds going toward the United for Waukesha Community Fund.
Stuti Mishra24 November 2021 03:35
Darrell Brooks’ new mugshot released
ICYMI: Police released a new mugshot for Darrell Brooks hours before he is set to appear in court.
The photo taken Tuesday morning shows Mr Brooks wide-eyed in a heavy, green jail-issued vest.
Darrell Brooks in a mugshot released Tuesday
(via REUTERS)
Graeme Massie24 November 2021 03:02
Milwaukee Brewers host fundraisers for parade victims
ICYMI: The Milwaukee Brewers baseball team announced two fundraisers in honour of the Waukesha Christmas parade victims.
The first took place on Tuesday morning, where fans were invited to meet with top members of the team at the Colectivo Coffee shop in Milwaukee. Attendees were encouraged to donate to the Brewers Community Foundation, with the team’s president of baseball operations David Sterns promising to personally match the amount raised.
The second event, “Magic of Lights” is scheduled for 5pm CT on Wednesday. For ever car that attends, host American Family Insurance pledged a $10 donation with a cap of $10,000.
Graeme Massie24 November 2021 02:03
WATCH: Dancing girl narrowly misses SUV strike
ICYMI: Harrowing video captured the moment a little girl narrowly avoided being struck by the SUV that barrelled down the Waukesha Christmas parade route on Sunday.
The youngster, dressed in pink snow gear, is seen dancing to a marching band a few feet from the sidewalk when the car passes inches behind her.
The crowd erupts in screams of terror as the car continues down the route before striking dozens of people.
The Independent’s Megan Sheets reports:
Graeme Massie24 November 2021 01:06
Darrell Brooks wears suicide prevention vest to court hearing
Mr Brooks faces life imprisonment if convicted on the five intentional homicide charges he faces, with prosecutors expected to bring a sixth charge following the death of eight-year-old Jackson Sparks.
(AP)
(AP)
Graeme Massie24 November 2021 00:31
Wisconsin church confirms death of Jackson Sparks
The eight-year-old became the sixth victim of the Wisconsin Christmas parade incident last Sunday.
“Aaron Sparks and Sheri Sparks would like to thank everyone for your prayers and amazing support during this difficult time,” said LifePoint Church in a Facebook post.
“They wanted to give an update to everyone as you are likely aware, Tucker (12) and Jackson ( Sparks were both seriously injured during the Waukesha Christmas Parade attack and have been in the ICU since.
“Tucker, by the grace of God is miraculously recovering from his injuries and will be being discharged home. This afternoon, our dear Jackson has sadly succumbed to his injuries and passed away.
“Please know that they appreciate your continued prayers and tremendous outpouring of support for their family. They do however ask for privacy at this time to allow Tucker to continue to heal physically and their family to heal and mourn the tremendous loss of their sweet little boy who is now under the care of Jesus.”
Graeme Massie24 November 2021 00:01
DA’s past comments on reforms draw scrutiny
A Wisconsin district attorney acknowledged that his justice reforms could lead to freed criminals killing others more than a decade before a man his office released on bail mowed down dozens of people at a Christmas parade in Waukesha.
John Chisholm began enacting reforms – including the lowering of cash bonds and diverting non-violent offenders to treatment programs – when he was elected as Milwaukee County District Attorney in 2007.
Explaining his efforts to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that same year, Mr Chisholm acknowledged the possibility of adverse consequences.
“Is there going to be an individual I divert, or I put into a treatment program, who’s going to go out and kill somebody? You bet. Guaranteed. It’s guaranteed to happen,” he said.
“It does not invalidate the overall approach.”
Mr Chisholm’s comments were drawn back into the spotlight this week after Darrell Brooks, a felon with a rap sheet dating back to 1999, was accused of killing five people and wounding 48 others by driving his car into Waukesha’s Christmas parade.
The Independent’s Megan Sheets reports:
Megan Sheets23 November 2021 23:10
Eight-year-old Jackson Sparks confirmed as sixth victim
The sixth victim of the Waukesha parade attack has been confirmed as eight-year-old Jackson Sparks.
A GoFundMe for Jackson’s family confirmed the tragic news on Tuesday evening after prosecutors revealed the sixth death at Darrell Brooks’ court hearing.
Jackson’s brother Tucker, 12, was also seriously injured but is “miraculously recovering” and will be discharged soon, the fundraiser states.
Eight-year-old Jackson Sparks died of injuries sustained in the attack on Tuesday. He is pictured (front) with his brother Tucker, who was also injured
(GoFundMe)
Megan Sheets23 November 2021 22:39
Waukesha parade news – latest: Police hold press conference after Darrell Brooks’ criminal record revealed
Watch live as police hold press conference on Waukesha Christmas parade tragedy
The five people killed by a driver who rammed into a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, on Sunday evening have been identified.
Waukesha Police Chief Daniel Thompson read out the names at a press conference on Monday afternoon: Virginia Sorenson, 79; LeAnna Owen, 71; Tamara Durand, 52; Jane Kulich, 52; and Wilhelm Hospel, 81. Mr Thompson also confirmed the injury toll had risen from 40 to 48.
The suspected driver, 39-year-old Darrell Brooks, is facing five counts of first-degree intentional homicide, police said. He was allegedly involved in a “domestic dispute” moments prior to driving onto the parade route, and court records show he has an extensive rap sheet dating back to 1999.
Video from the tragedy showed a red SUV barrelling at high speed into band members and cheerleaders marching in close formation, striking multiple people and scattering the crowd.
Witnesses described the “horrifying” incident and said the “calm” driver was “going from side to side, targeting people”.
Children’s Wisconsin, a paediatric hospital in Milwaukee, confirmed it treated 18 minor victims, ranging in age from three to 16 years old. Six of the child victims required surgery and 10 remained in the intensive care unit as of midday Monday.
Read more:
Follow live updates below
To receive our free breaking news alerts direct to your inbox click here.
Wisconsin parade-crash suspect was in a domestic disturbance, says police chief
The suspect who plowed his SUV into a Christmas parade in Waukesha was leaving the scene of a domestic dispute that had taken place just minutes earlier, the city police chief said on Monday.
The man identified as 39-year-old Darrell Brooks had a long history of criminal activities and has been charged with crimes 16 times since 1999.
However, police chief Dan Thompson earlier said there was no evidence the bloodshed on Sunday was a terrorist attack or that the suspect knew anyone in the parade.
He added that the suspect acted alone.
Brooks left the site of the domestic disturbance before officers arrived, and was not being chased by police at the time of the crash, according to the chief quoted by Associated Press, who gave no further details on the dispute.
Police said they were drawing up five charges of intentional homicide against Brooks.
On Sunday, the SUV that went on to kill people gathered for a joyous Christmas parade left 5 dead and over 40 injured. The victims were women aged between 52 to 79 and an 81-year-old man.
Additional reporting by AP
Stuti Mishra23 November 2021 06:53
Crowd grows at candle light vigil in Waukesha
The number of people attending the candlelight vigil in Waukesha increased later on Monday night amid freezing temperatures.
Video footage of the late-night vigil showed mourners gathered to honour the dead after an SUV ploughed into the Christmas parade, killing at least five people and injuring 40 more.
Stuti Mishra23 November 2021 06:10
Watch: Father reveals how he pushed daughter out of harm’s way at final moment
“I noticed him coming through the crowd and I noticed something was not right, and then I seen kind of like just people flying as I stood up,”, Mr Kluka Jr told TODAY. “I’m like ‘Oh no.’ My daughter stood up, I threw her out of the way, then I basically yelled, ‘Get out of the way,’ and my wife got out of the way”.
Watch the full video with Independent TV.
Waukesha parade watcher says he pushed daughter out of harms way
Stuti Mishra23 November 2021 04:30
‘Dancing Grannies’ Facebook group devastated after the attack
Multiple members of the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies were among the five killed in the Waukesha Christmas parade attack.
The members were Virginia Sorenson, 79, LeAnna Owen, 71, and Tamara Durand, 52. Wilhelm Hospel, 81 was also closely associated with the group.
The dance group, in a Facebook post after the incident, said it is “devastated” and those who died were “extremely passionate Grannies”.
“The Milwaukee Dancing Grannies are devastated by this terrible tragedy with of loss of life and injuries in the Waukesha Christmas parade,” the group wrote.
“Our group was doing what they loved, performing in front of crowds in a parade putting smiles on faces of all ages, filling them with joy and happiness. While performing the grannies enjoyed hearing the crowds cheers and applause which certainly brought smiles to their faces and warmed their hearts,” it added.
“Those who died were extremely passionate Grannies. Their eyes gleamed…..joy of being a Grannie. They were the glue….held us together. Our hearts are heavy at this most difficult time, as more information and updates become available it will be posted.”
“Please keep them their families, friends, the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies and everyone who lives have forever changed in your thoughts and prayers.”
The Dancing Grannies describes itself on Facebook as a “group of grannies that meet once a week to practice routines for summer and winter parades.” They have been performing in parades since 1984.
Read more about the victims:
Stuti Mishra23 November 2021 03:56
What happened at the Wisconsin Christmas parade?
The red Ford Escape SUV was captured on video driving straight towards marching cheerleaders and band members at around 40mph, hitting around 20 people and causing the crowd that had assembled to enjoy the 58th Annual Waukesha Holiday Parade to disperse in panic.
Witnesses to the atrocity on Sunday described the car as having accelerated along the parade route and “going from side to side, targeting people”.
The Independent’s Joe Sommerlad writes what happened next.
Justin Vallejo23 November 2021 03:00
Everything we know about suspect Darrell Brooks
Darrell Edward Brooks, 39, was taken into custody on Sunday night shortly after a red Ford Escape SUV drove into a the parade in the Wisconsin city, killing five and injuring 48 people, including 18 children aged 3 to 16.
According to criminal record searches, Mr Brooks was a longtime felon whose offending dated back to 1999. He has convictions for drug and firearm possession, strangulation, battery and resisting arrest, has been sentenced to two prison terms, and spent years on probation and under court supervision.
The Independent’s Bevan Hurley has the full background.
Justin Vallejo23 November 2021 02:00
Grandmother recalls horror of Waukesha attack
Tricia Tucker, 52, saw the whole disaster unfold. She chokes up as she talks to The Independent’s Shelia Flynn describing “literally grabbing kids by their jackets, throwing them into my building – because the doors, when they close, they lock”.
“I’m screaming for everybody who can hear me to run into my place,” she says – as she ran outside to find her youngest daughter, 18, who was home from boarding school for the holidays.”
Justin Vallejo23 November 2021 01:00
Candlelight vigil held for victims
Hundreds of people are gathering in Cutler Park to remember the victims of suspected attacker Darrell Brooks, who is alleged to have ploughed through a Christmas parade on Sunday.
Five were killed and more than 40 more injured.
Justin Vallejo23 November 2021 00:06
How a ‘Norman Rockwell-type’ Christmas parade turned into ‘senseless tragedy’
Officials in Waukesha, Wisconsin, said the parade, a “Norman Rockwell-type event” that the city had proudly hosted for decades for both residents and visitors, was part of its very fabric, writes The Independent’s Andrew Buncombe.
“With the state, and the nation, already on edge over the verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial, a proceeding that appears to have divided the nation, some commentators expressed a small degree of relief when police in Waukesha, 50 miles northwest of Kenosha, said they were not treating Sunday’s incident as terrorism.”
Justin Vallejo22 November 2021 23:50
Brooks skipped bail on sex offender charge after impregnating 15-year-old: Reports
Darrell Brooks was wanted in Nevada for failing to obey sex offender laws, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to Fox News.
Brooks was convicted of having consensual sex with a 15-year-old girl and conceiving a child in 2006. He was arrested in 2016 for violating the terms of his probation but he never appeared in court, Fox News reported.
Justin Vallejo22 November 2021 22:53
Waukesha parade news latest: Suspect Darrell Brooks identified after deadly attack
Waukesha: SUV speeds past Christmas parade before hitting crowd
New details continue to emerge about the moment a driver rammed into a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, on Sunday evening, killing at least five people and injuring 40 others.
Darrell Brooks, 39, was identified as the driver by multiple media outlets including the Associated Press and NBC News on Monday morning.
Police chief Dan Thompson said one person of interest was taken into custody shortly after the attack on Sunday. He declined to name the man and said it was unclear whether the incident had any connection to terrorism.
Video footage showed a red SUV barrelling at high speed into band members and cheerleaders marching in close formation, striking multiple people and scattering the crowd.
Witnesses described the “horrifying” incident and said the “calm” driver was “going from side to side, targeting people”.
The police chief did not believe the SUV driver had fired a weapon following early reports of gunshots. He said that one officer had fired at the vehicle in an attempt to stop it.
Read more:
Follow live updates below
To receive our free breaking news alerts direct to your inbox click here.
Vigil to be held for victims
A vigil in honour of the victims of the Christmas parade attack is scheduled to be held on Monday night.
It will take place at 5pm CT at Cutler Park, hosted by the Association of Waukesha Congregations.
More details available here.
(David Simmons / Facebook)
Megan Sheets22 November 2021 16:35
Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin treated 18 injured kids
The Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin on Monday confirmed it has treated 18 kids injured in the Christmas parade crash.
Hospital officials are slated to hold a press conference about the tragedy at 11am CT.
Authorities have said at least five people were killed and 40 others injured when a car plowed into the parade on Sunday night. They did not specify which victims were children.
Megan Sheets22 November 2021 16:22
Trump releases statement on tragedy
Former President Donald Trump released a statement about the Waukesha tragedy on Monday morning, calling it “devastating, horrible and very very sick”.
“My heart goes out to the people of this great, beautiful, and hardworking community,” he wrote.
“We must find answers to this terrible crime, and stop these violent and depraved acts from happening again. I am with you Waukesha, and always will be!”
Megan Sheets22 November 2021 16:10
WATCH: Horrifying video shows car plowing into crowd
Terrifying footage captured the moment a red SUV barrelled down the parade route before striking dozens of people.
In the video, the car is seen traveling at a high speed behind a high school band and passing rows of cheerleaders waving flags.
Seconds later, witnesses are seen reacting in horror as a police officer rushes in the direction of the car.
Waukesha: SUV speeds past Christmas parade before hitting crowd
Megan Sheets22 November 2021 15:50
Suspected driver ‘has lengthy criminal history’
Darrell Brooks, the man suspected of plowing his car into the parade, boasts a lengthy rap sheet, according to reports.
He was released from jail on $1,000 bail just two days before Sunday’s crash, per Milwaukee County court records.
The records show he was arrested on 5 November on charges of domestic abuse, resisting an officer, and second-degree recklessly endangering safety, disorderly conduct and felony bail jumping.
He pleaded not guilty to all counts.
Mr Brooks has another open felony case for second-degree recklessly endangering safety and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon from July 2020.
He has convictions dating back to 1999, according to Wisconsin court records.
Megan Sheets22 November 2021 15:30
Suspected driver identified as Darrell E Brooks
The man suspected of plowing his car into crowds at Waukesha’s Christmas parade has been identified as 39-year-old Darrell E Brooks of Wisconsin.
Mr Brooks, 39, was named on Monday morning by multiple news outlets, including NBC News and the Associated Press. Waukesha Police have yet to issue an official confirmation.
Police have said a man was taken into custody for questioning as a person of interest shortly after the attack on Sunday.
The Independent’s Bevan Hurley reports:
Megan Sheets22 November 2021 15:13
What we know about the parade crash driver
The man has not been officially named as of 10am ET Monday.
Local police chief Dan Thompson said in a press conference that his department had detained the suspected driver and seized the red Ford Escape but that he did not yet know whether the driver’s actions had any connection to terrorism.
Witnesses described the car as having accelerated along the parade route and “going from side to side, targeting people”.
The Independent’s Joe Sommerlad explains everything we know about the suspect so far:
Megan Sheets22 November 2021 15:00
Community fund set up for victims of crash
The City of Waukesha has announced a fundraiser for victims of Sunday’s deadly parade crash.
The “United for Waukesha Community Fund” is a joint effort by the Waukesha County Community Foundation and United Way.
Donations can be made here.
Megan Sheets22 November 2021 14:40
Man who crashed into parade ‘may have been fleeing knife fight’
The man who plowed into Waukesha’s Christmas parade on Sunday may have been fleeing from the scene of another incident, law enforcement sources told CNN.
The sources cautioned that the investigation is still in its early stages.
They said investigators have yet to find any links to international or domestic terrorism, or to the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict in Kenosha on Friday.
A person of interest in the crash was taken into custody but his name has not been released by police.
Megan Sheets22 November 2021 14:20
Milwaukee Dancing Grannies members among the dead
Members of the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies were among the victims killed on Sunday, the group confirmed in a Facebook post.
“The Milwaukee Dancing Grannies are devastated by this terrible tragedy with of loss of life and injuries in the Waukesha Christmas parade,” the group wrote early Monday.
“Our group was doing what they loved, performing in front of crowds in a parade putting smiles on faces of all ages, filling them with joy and happiness. While performing the grannies enjoyed hearing the crowds cheers and applause which certainly brought smiles to their faces and warmed their hearts.
“Those who died were extremely passionate Grannies. Their eyes gleamed…..joy of being a Grannie. They were the glue….held us together.
“Our hearts are heavy at this most difficult time, as more information and updates become available it will be posted . Please keep them their families, friends, the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies and everyone who lives have forever changed in your thoughts and prayers.”
The Independent’s Bevan Hurley reports:
Megan Sheets22 November 2021 14:00
Seahawks’ Darrell Taylor Taken to Hospital After Suffering Injury vs. Steelers | Bleacher Report
Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Sunday night’s matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and Pittsburgh Steelers took a backseat to a scary scene in the fourth quarter.
Seahawks defensive end Darrell Taylor was stretchered off with an injury after a long delay during which players on both teams gathered on the field to see if he was all right.
B/R Gridiron @brgridiron
Darrell Taylor had to be carted off the field after an apparent neck injury.
Prayers up 🙏 pic.twitter.com/6mfyGHdjcU
NBC Sports’ Michele Tafoya reported Taylor was taken away via ambulance. She noted, “It was confirmed to me by Seahawks PR that he is moving all of his extremities.”
According to NFL.com, Taylor was moving his legs when he was on the ground and before he was immobilized and stretchered off.
Seattle coach Pete Carroll provided a positive update on Taylor after the game:
Seattle Seahawks @Seahawks
.@PeteCarroll provides an injury update on @darrelltaylorst. pic.twitter.com/dNC1tjrsCT
Seattle Seahawks @Seahawks
Our thoughts are with @darrelltaylorst. He is alert, has use of all of his extremities, and his CT scans were clear. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/ngHilyX5OL
John Boyle @johnpboyle
More good news on Darrell Taylor: he will fly back to Seattle with the team tonight.
Former Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier, who suffered a spinal cord injury that ended his career, tweeted his support:
Ryan Shazier @RyanShazier
I pray Taylor is okay. God is strong he will help us over come all obstacles. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Taylor is in his second season in the league after Seattle selected him in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft. He has appeared in all six of the team’s games this season and entered play with 12 tackles, four sacks and one forced fumble. He added four tackles against Pittsburgh before exiting.
The 24-year-old missed what would have been his rookie campaign in 2020 because of injury.
Pittsburgh beat Seattle in overtime on a Chris Boswell field goal that was set up by T.J. Watt’s forced fumble.
Darrell Salk, son of polio vaccine creator Jonas Salk, gets Covid-19 vaccine
The younger Salk said he rarely capitalizes on his name — but he felt this time it would make a positive difference, because now he was getting the Covid-19 vaccine.
“I publicly stepped forward so I could be vaccinated publicly and have a chance to say something because I hoped that it would make a difference,” Salk told CNN. “I hoped that if I stepped forward from back in the shadows where I usually stay, it might help some people make up their minds. If so, I will be very grateful.”
Salk received the vaccine at UW Medical Center Montlake campus in Seattle, UW Medicine spokeswoman Susan Gregg confirmed to CNN.
More than 24.6 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been administered in the US, according to data published Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The state of Washington has administered 534,445 doses of the vaccine, as reported by the CDC.
Salk, who has felt fine since getting the vaccine, said he was “delighted” to get his first dose. Part of that is because he has several underlying conditions and is a high-risk patient, he said.
The other part is that he sees it as a feat of modern science. Salk has spent years as a vaccinologist studying the creation of vaccines, as well as how to manufacture and transport them.
“There’s several aspects of it that were very impressive,” Salk said. “The creation of a vaccine that’s effective and safe in less than a year is astounding. It’s an amazing thing. To develop the polio virus vaccine took seven years.”
For him, the decision to get a vaccine was obvious, both for his health and those around him.
“The chances that you will be infected with Covid-19 is so much higher than the risk associated with the vaccine,” he said. “That looks like an easy choice to me. I don’t want to risk my life, or the life of someone I love.”
However, there are people who claim the vaccine is unsafe and others who are vaccine hesitant.
Salk has a message for them.
“The takeaway is that these vaccines are safe, they’re effective and they will help us bring this pandemic under control,” he said. “You should embrace the opportunity to be vaccinated and to be part of the solution.”
Polio and Covid-19 both gripped the US
The polio epidemic gripped headlines in the US as mostly children became stricken with the crippling disease. It captured the nation’s attention and the emotion of it all is something people who lived through it in the first half of the 20th century remember vividly.
The Covid-19 pandemic has some of that same emotion, Salk said, but the trajectory of both diseases is markedly different.
“Polio arose gradually. It was a chronic disease or an endemic disease, and then became epidemic as the susceptible population grew,” Salk said. “The Covid-19 virus, on the other hand, appeared, everybody was susceptible and had no experience with it before. It spread basically like wildfire … around the world very rapidly.”
Beyond the zero-to-60 mph speed of the spread of Covid-19, the fatality rate of the virus is much higher than polio, Salk said.
Polio was known for crippling and paralyzing people, killing nearly 2,000 people yearly from 1951 to 1954, according to the CDC. As of Wednesday, Covid-19 has killed at least 428,654 people in the US since last January.
Seeing Covid-19 vaccines distributed has made Salk think of his father and how “pleased and excited he would have been to see this,” he said.
“It impressed on me the importance of the work that my father did, both stopping the epidemic with the vaccine itself, and demonstrating that you could use noninfectious agents to immunize,” Salk said. His father used a killed polio virus to create the vaccine.
Living through the Covid-19 pandemic has had a duality to it for Salk, who is both intrigued and frightened of it.
“I had this kind of push me, pull you reaction,” he said. “I was scared by it, but then I was fascinated to be able to be part of it, to see it and to live through it.”
US response to the pandemic ’embarrasses’ him
Simple acts like washing your hands, wearing a mask and avoiding crowds could have controlled the spread of Covid-19. How the US responded to the pandemic frankly embarrasses Salk, he said.
“It’s really a shame that in this country, supposedly the epitome of advanced countries, the response was, I’m sorry, bungled so badly,” he said.
“We’re now swimming upstream,” he said. “It embarrasses me that the United States is number one in problems with the Covid-19 virus, more cases than anyplace else, it’s spreading faster than anyplace else. It’s embarrassing to me that this country did not respond properly because it was not driven by the science.”
The way to get the virus under control lies in enough people getting the vaccine and Salk hopes that Americans opt to get it.
“Vaccines are safe and effective, and they should be widely used,” he said. “We will get out of this, but it will take individuals doing the proper behavior in order to get rid of it.”