Our coverage of the 2021 Waukesha Christmas Parade tragedy
Just before dusk on Sunday, Nov. 21, a man driving a red Ford Escape plowed into downtown Waukesha's annual Christmas parade, leaving six dead and more than 60 injured.
Darrell E. Brooks Jr. was subsequently arrested, charged and, on Oct. 26, 2022, found guilty of 76 criminal counts, including six first-degree intentional homicide charges for the six deaths.
Here's what we know about the incident, the victims, the suspect, community reaction and legal questions surrounding the case.
What happened at the Waukesha Christmas Parade
Brooks drove the SUV into the parade route about 4:40 p.m., according to Waukesha police. Brooks was driving at a much higher rate of speed than the parade vehicles and he kept driving after hitting scores of participants, according to witness video footage.
TIMELINE: "The blood. The CPR The dead." Read a moment-by-moment accounting of what happened that night (11/27/21) LIVE BLOGS: Wednesday, Nov. 24 | Tuesday, Nov. 23 | Monday, Nov. 22
MORE COVERAGE:
This interactive graphic, walks through the parade route, incident and aftermath. (11/22/21)
Social media posts showed a chaotic scene. (11/21/21)
When the news first broke, information was sparse. All we knew was that a person plowed their SUV through the Waukesha Christmas Parade. (11/21/21)
Journal Sentinel intern Kaylee Staral was at the parade with her family, and provided this eyewitness account of what happened. (11/21/21)
Questions about bail, risk assessment and public safety
Brooks was free on $1,000 bail from an earlier case in Milwaukee County when authorities say he intentionally drove into the parade. A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel analysis found that bail to be considerably lower than the average of similar open cases. He also had been assessed as a high risk for release.
MORE COVERAGE:
A trial for Darrell Brooks Jr. has been scheduled to begin Oct. 3. (3/1122)
What is the role of commissioners in the court system? In wake of the attack, here's a look at how they are assigned. (12/9/21)
Wisconsin Republican lawmakers are calling for the removal of Milwaukee County DA John Chisholm over Darrell Brooks' bail. (12/6/21)
The court commissioner who approved $1,000 bail for Darrell E. Brooks Jr. has been reassigned to non-criminal division. (12/8/21)
Should Wisconsin consider domestic violence when setting bail? In the wake of the Waukesha parade attack, some think so. (12/3/21)
Milwaukee's district attorney called the low bail given to the suspect in an earlier case "a mistake," but also cited missing documentation and a pandemic-related court backlog. (12/2/21)
A pretrial service agency labeled Darrell Brooks a high risk for release weeks before the Waukesha parade tragedy. (12/2/21)
The suspect’s bail in an earlier felony domestic violence case was considerably lower than the average of similar cases, a Journal Sentinel analysis found. (12/1/21)
The Waukesha Christmas Parade attack has raised questions about bail in Wisconsin. Here's how the system works. (12/1/21)
Editorial: Darrell Brooks Jr. should have been in jail the night of Waukesha's parade. Chisholm and the court need to explain why he was out on bail. (12/1/21)
What we know about the Waukesha Christmas parade victims
Six people died as a result of the attack and more than 60 people were injured. Those who died range in age from 8 to 81. The youngest person hurt at the parade that we know of is 3 years old.
VICTIM PROFILES: Jackson Sparks | Tamara L. Carlson Durand | Virginia 'Ginny' E. Sorenson | Leanna "Lee" Owen | Wilhelm "Bill" Hospel | Jane Kulich
MORE COVERAGE:
Nearly two weeks after the incident, the Dancing Grannies marched in the Franklin Christmas Parade. (12/4/21)
In snippets of interviews and in online posts, the full scale of the physical wounds of some of the survivors is coming into focus. (11/23/21)
The Dancing Grannies lost multiple members in the Waukesha Christmas Parade tragedy. (11/23/21)
Five who died Sunday in Waukesha Christmas Parade all served others with their talents. (11/22/21)
Haynes: Be shocked, and remember the victims. (11/22/21)
Nickel: Who cares about games at a tragic time like this? (11/22/21)
What we know about Darrell Brooks Jr.
Brooks was initially charged with six counts of first-degree intentional homicide. Since then, dozens of charges have been added to the case against him, including recklessly endangering safety by use of a dangerous weapon covering threats and injuries to the many parade participants and spectators.
Brooks was out on bail at the time of the parade attack with an open court case related to domestic violence.
In October 2022, after a sometimes chaotic four-week trial in which Brooks represented himself, a jury found him guilty on all counts.
MORE COVERAGE:
Dozens of additional charges have been filed against Darrell Brooks Jr. in connection with the Waukesha parade tragedy. (1/11/22)
Darrell E. Brooks Jr. faces new charges of trying to intimidate a woman he was charged with running over about three weeks earlier. (12/6/21)
In his first interview since being taken into custody, Brooks said he is being "demonized" and treated like a "monster." (12/1/21)
The suspect in the Waukesha Parade attack had a history of domestic violence. That's not surprising, experts say. (11/26/21)
The woman who Darrell Brooks Jr. is charged with running over with an SUV early November told police she thought Brooks was trying to kill her. (11/23/21)
Darrell Brooks has been charged with crimes 10 times since 1999. (11/22/21)
Here is what we know about the suspect in the Waukesha parade incident. (11/22/21)
How the community has responded
Many businesses and community members have started fundraisers to help those affected by the Waukesha Christmas parade tragedy. The biggest one is called the United for Waukesha Community Fund.
MORE COVERAGE:
$5.6 million has been raised for victims so far. Here's how that money's going to be distributed and how to apply to receive some of it. (1/7/22)
Waukesha city officials are looking at ways to preserve a makeshift memorial at Veterans Park. (12/7/21)
For one Waukesha priest, "We deal with a lot of suffering ... but this time, the whole community was impacted." (12/3/21)
City of Waukesha leaders are urging community members to light a blue light outside of their homes "to show unity and to stand with those injured." (11/28/21)
These places are selling Waukesha Strong apparel, decals and ornaments (11/25/21)
Communities within Waukesha and far beyond have donated and provided services for those affected by the violence. (11/24/21)
As streets and businesses reopen in downtown Waukesha, memories of a horrific tragedy remain. (11/23/21)
Twenty-four hours after the incident, hundreds gathered for an evening of interfaith prayer and to embrace their community. (11/22/21)
From weekend shopping fundraisers to GoFundMe for specific groups, here’s how you can help the Waukesha Christmas parade victims (11/22/21)
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Waukesha Christmas Parade 2021: Darrell Brooks found guilty of rampage
Solve the daily Crossword
