Darrell Brooks, the Wisconsin man accused of driving an SUV that crashed through a crowd of people during a Christmas parade in Waukesha on Sunday, was charged with five counts of first-degree intentional homicide.
Brooks, 39, made his first appearance in court Tuesday shortly after a criminal complaint was released. Officials previously said five adults died in the massacre, but prosecutors revealed that a sixth person, a child, had also died, and dozens more were injured.
If convicted for all five counts he currently faces, Brooks could spend the rest of his life in prison. Prosecutors indicated that he will face a sixth intentional homicide charge within a week.
The judge set bail at $5 million in cash, saying he believes Brooks is a flight risk, according to CNN.
WAUKESHA MAN DESCRIBES TENSE TAKEDOWN WHEN PARADE SUSPECT SHOWED UP AT HIS HOUSE
“Today, our community faced horror and tragedy in what should have been a community celebration,” said Waukesha Mayor Shawn Reilly. “I’m deeply saddened to know that so many in our community went to a parade but ended up dealing with injury and heartache.”
Brooks has a lengthy criminal history, including two open felony cases. An amateur rapper from Milwaukee, Brooks had been bailed out of jail less than 48 hours earlier and was allegedly fleeing the scene of a domestic disturbance when he blew past barricades and plowed into paraders, said Dan Thompson, chief of the Waukesha Police Department.
BREAKING: Criminal complaint against Darrell Brooks just released. I will post in entirety below. #waukeshaChristmasParade pic.twitter.com/xKoDOQja6V
— Kristen Barbaresi (@KristenBarbar) November 23, 2021
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The five adults who died after the car plowed through the Christmas parade on Sunday have been identified as James Coolidge, 52, Tamara Durand, 52, Wilhelm Hospel, 82, Leanna Owens, 71, and Virginia Sorenson, 79.
The Washington Examiner reached out to the Waukesha Police Department for a statement.
