What we know, and don't know, about the Waukesha Christmas Parade tragedy
Just before dusk on Sunday, a 39-year-old Milwaukee man drove a red SUV through barricades that were blocking traffic in downtown Waukesha for the city's annual Christmas parade, triggering a sequence of events that would leave at least five dead and 40 injured.
Live Blog:Updates as we get them
Here's what we know and don't know:
The incident: A red SUV plowed through the parade
Darrell Brooks Jr. 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.
Nearly 50 people were hurt in the attack, including members of a girls dance team, a Catholic priest, and a group of dancing grandmothers known as the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies.
Four of the grandmothers were among the five deaths in the incident. Also killed was a team member from Citizen Bank who was walking with a parade float and was struck, the business said in a statement.
Read more about the incident and aftermath at the scene
Video posted on social media showed a chaotic scene
Timeline of how the events unfolded
The suspect: Darrell Brooks Jr. has been charged with crimes 10 times since 1999.
Waukesha Police Chief Dan Thompson said Brooks is in custody and faces at least five counts of intentional homicide with the possibility of additional charges.
Brooks was out on bail with an open court case related to domestic violence, according to a law enforcement source with firsthand knowledge of the situation.
Brooks has been charged three times in less than two years with recklessly endangering the safety of others, most recently on Nov. 5 as part of a domestic abuse incident for which he was also charged with resisting or obstructing an officer.
In the most recent case, a woman told police Brooks purposefully ran her "over with his vehicle" while she was walking through a gas station parking lot after he had followed her there after a fight, according to the criminal complaint.
Thompson did not say Monday what triggered Brooks to plow through the parade. Thompson said the incident is not considered to be domestic terrorism.
Just before the parade attack, Brooks was involved in a domestic disturbance. Thompson said the details of the initial incident is unknown at this point.
Read more about the suspect and his long history of contacts with law enforcement
The victims: 48 injuries and five fatalities
Nearly 50 people were injured and five people died during the incident, according to police. The victims range in age from 52 to 81.
Officials at Children's Wisconsin Hospital in Wauwatosa said Monday they are caring for 18 patients who were hurt in the incident. Eight children underwent surgery for their injuries since Sunday, the officials said.
Ten children are in the ICU and six are in critical condition. Three children are in serious condition and one is in fair condition. Eight others are in fair condition and receiving regular care at the hospital.
Three sets of siblings were among the patients, hospital officials said.
Opinion: Be shocked, and remember the victims
Officer fired at the vehicle
Eyewitnesses reported hearing gunshots but Thompson said he does not believe any came from inside the SUV. Thompson said one officer fired at the vehicle in an effort to stop the driver.
"As we were walking back in between the buildings that we saw an SUV crossover, just put the pedal to the metal and just zooming full speed along the parade route. And then we heard a loud bang, and just deafening cries and screams from people who are struck by the vehicle," said Angelito Tenorio, a West Allis alderman who marched in the parade. "And then, and then we saw people running away or stopping crying, and there, there are people on the ground who looked like they'd been hit by the vehicle."
How to help: Fund created to help those affected by parade incident
A fund has been created for those affected by the tragedy.
The United for Waukesha Community Fund has been created, according to a Twitter post late Sunday from Amy Linder, CEO and president of the United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County.
People can make donations through the Waukesha Community Foundation at waukeshafoundation.org/parade.
Vigils, gatherings planned
Several area community groups are planning vigils and gatherings in response to the incident.
Waukesha schools are canceled Monday and Tuesday
The School District of Waukesha has canceled classes on Monday and Tuesday. A message on the district's website said they would have additional counselors available at all buildings for all students and staff in need of support services.
Read more about school closings
Here's advice on how to help children process and talk through the tragedy
Contact Molly Beck at molly.beck@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @MollyBeck.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Waukesha Christmas Parade: What we know about the incident
