Darrell Brooks, the sole suspect in the deadly Christmas parade attack that killed five and injured at least 62 in Waukesha, Wisconsin, has been charged with five counts of intentional homicide. The sex offender who appeared in court on Tuesday afternoon also allegedly ran over a woman earlier this month.
The 39-year-old with a lengthy rap sheet faces charges stemming from Sunday’s attack that involved a red SUV plowing through barricades and into the parade’s crowd. It unleashed mass bloodshed and horror.
The maximum sentencing for intentional homicide is life in prison. Additional charges are likely, according to the Milwaukee District Attorney’s Office, but won’t come until injuries are assessed.
Ahead of his first court appearance, a new mugshot featuring a wide-eyed Brooks was released by the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office.
Waukesha Police Chief Daniel Thompson confirmed the five fatalities, whose ages range from 52 to 81-years-old. They include Virginia Sorenson, 79; LeAnna Owen, 71; Tamara Durand, 52; Jane Kulich, 52; and Wilhelm Hospel, 81.
The tragedy left three members of the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies dead, and at least 18 children among a total of 48 injured.
Just three weeks ago, Brooks was released on a $1,000 bond after allegedly running over a woman who said she’s the mother of his child.
The Milwaukee District Attorney’s Office said Monday that the bail was ‘inappropriately low’ given Brooks’ extensive criminal history. The office has since launched an internal probe to determine how Brooks was given such a low bond.
In 2006, he was convicted for having consensual sex with a 15-year-old girl in Nevada, who later gave birth to his child, according to the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office.
He pleaded guilty and was placed on probation.
Brooks was then jailed in 2016 for failing to register as a sex offender. He was released on bail but failed to show up to court, leading to a warrant being issued for his arrest, the New York Post reported.
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