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Initial charges are expected to be filed Tuesday against the suspect in Sunday’s fatal incident at the Waukesha Christmas parade, according to a statement from Waukesha County District Attorney’s Office.
“We are working closely with the City of Waukesha Police Department to review the matter and decide what criminal charges will be issued. Initial charges are expected to be filed tomorrow,” read the statement.
The District Attorney’s Office also expressed its condolences to the crime victims and all those who were affected by the events.
“This tragedy has affected our entire community. We would like to acknowledge the work of the men and women in law enforcement who have done a tremendous job to save lives and protect our community,” the statement read.
Earlier today, police identified the suspect as Darrell E. Brooks, 39, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He will have his initial appearance in court on Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET (4 p.m. local time). Police have recommended five charges of intentional homicide. The hearings will be available via livestream for the public to view.
A candlelight vigil is being held to honor the victims of Sunday’s Waukesha Christmas parade incident. The vigil is being organized by the Association of Waukesha Congregations at Cutler Park.
Five people were killed and more than 40 were injured when a vehicle drove into a Christmas parade Sunday afternoon, city officials said.
Witnesses described the horror of seeing individuals struck and lying on the ground after a red SUV drove through a series of barricades and barreled into the crowded parade route on Main Street around 4:39 p.m. local time.
Police identified the suspect Monday and said he was involved in a domestic disturbance just prior to driving his SUV through the parade.
Milwaukee native, Jane Kulich, 52, was representing her employer Citizens Bank, in the Waukesha Christmas parade when she was struck and killed by a red SUV Sunday night, according to her daughter Taylor Smith.
“She was an amazing mom and grandma. Everyone loved her,” Smith told CNN.
Kulich is survived by her three children and three grandchildren.
In a Facebook post Smith wrote, “My mom was killed last night. We are told she didn’t suffer.”
The family has started a GoFundMe page to help pay for Kulich’s funeral costs.
The suspect in Sunday’s fatal parade incident in Waukesha, Wisconsin, had been released on $1,000 bail earlier this month, according to court records and the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office, which said in a statement released Monday that the bail had been set “inappropriately low.”
In a news conference Monday, authorities named Darrell Brooks, 39, as the suspect that drove an SUV into a parade, killing five people and injuring 48 others.
Brooks posted bail on Nov. 11 in relation to charges, including domestic abuse. That incident also involved Brooks being accused of using a car to cause an injury, according to a criminal complaint.
On Nov. 2, according to the complaint, Brooks ran over a woman with his car while she was walking through a gas station parking lot.
Prosecutors filed five charges related to the incident: obstructing an officer; second-degree recklessly endangering safety with domestic abuse assessments; disorderly conduct with domestic abuse assessments; and misdemeanor battery with domestic abuse assessments.
Brooks was also charged with bail jumping, because he was already out on bail following a July 24, 2020, incident, according to court documents.
In a statement, the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office now said that they should not have recommended such a low bail for Brooks and have launched an internal review into the decision.
CNN reached out to Brooks’ attorney from the 2020 incident and the November 2021 incident about the district attorney’s office statement but has not yet received a response.
In the initial 2020 incident, Brooks was charged with: two counts of second-degree reckless endangering safety, use of a dangerous weapon; and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
The charging complaint alleges that Brooks fired a handgun during an argument. Authorities said they found a stolen handgun during Brooks’ arrest and three “multi colored pills,” which later tested “presumptively positive” for methamphetamines.
Bail had initially been set at $10,000 in that case but because Brooks had asked for a speedy jury trial, which could not be met, bail was reduced to $500. Brooks was released on bail in that case on Feb. 21, according to the district attorney’s office.
Brooks’ initial court appearance for the Waukesha Christmas parade incident is scheduled for Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET (4 p.m. local time).
An initial appearance for Darrell Brooks, the suspect in Sunday’s fatal incident at the Waukesha Christmas parade, will have his initial appearance in court on Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET (4 p.m. local time).
The hearings will be available via livestream for the public to view.
In a news conference on Monday afternoon, authorities said that police would be referring five counts of first intentional homicide, and other charges.
Eighteen children, including three sets of siblings, were taken to Children’s Wisconsin after an SUV barreled through the Waukesha Christmas Parade on Sunday night, Amy Drendel, director of the Emergency Department and Trauma Center, said today.
The children’s ages ranged from 3 to 16, Drendel said at a news conference.
“Injuries ranged from facial abrasions to broken bones to serious head injuries. Six of these patients were sent to the operating room last night and two additional patients are undergoing surgeries today,” Drendel said.
Dr. Michael Gutzeit, chief medical officer and vice president of Children’s Wisconsin, thanked the community and first responders for their efforts in handling the incident.
“I want to emphasize and express thanks to the community for the effort in their response. That begins with the gratitude for law enforcement who responded to the incident and was able to secure the incident. I want to commend the efforts of the Emergency Medical Services responders and other local hospitals who successfully stabilized patients before transporting or transferring kids to be cared for by our pediatric specialists,” Gutzeit said.
Children’s Wisconsin has contacted each of the patient’s families, Gutzeit said.
Children’s Wisconsin said it has mental and behavioral support specialists available to support patients and families who need resources.
The Waukesha School District Superintendent announced that the district will remain closed until the Monday after the Thanksgiving holiday. Schools in the district were closed on today following the parade incident, where five people were killed and dozens were injured.
“Our counseling and lunch services will be available to students and staff again tomorrow,” said Jim Sebert, the superintendent of the Waukesha School district at a news conference. “The district will resume classes after the Thanksgiving holiday per our school calendar on Monday November 29th.”
Sebert went on to say that additional resources and assistance will be provided to families with in the Waukesha community.
“Further information and any additional updates will continue to be available on our district websites,” said Sebert. “I am deeply sorry that we are here today and we look forward to healing both as a school community, and a larger Waukesha community.”
Alan Johnson, vice president of critical care and specialty services at ProHealth Care based in Waukesha, Wisconsin, provided an update on those who were treated at a nearby hospital after an SUV plowed into a Christmas parade.
Johnson said during a news conference that 48 victims of the parade were transported to area hospital, where 29 were taken to Waukesha Memorial Hospital, which Johnson noted was just a few blocks away from the parade route.
Johnson said that both children and adults were brought in to receive care.
“There were many children among the victims brought to Waukesha Memorial. After initial assessment, stabilization and treatment, we transferred 11 of those to Children’s of Wisconsin. Four victims were admitted to Waukesha Memorial, they are all currently stable and many of them will likely discharge from the hospital today,” he said.
Johnson also said that one victim that was brought to Waukesha Memorial Hospital was pronounced dead on arrival.
Twelve others who were treated in the emergency department were released.
“In addition to those who were on duty at Waukesha Memorial last night, many others rushed to the hospital to help. They included nearly every one of our emergency department physicians, countless surgeons and an anesthesiologists, hospitalists and nurses. What I saw on display last night in response to this crisis was nothing less than the highest level of professionalism,” Johnson added.
The ages of the five deceased victims from Sunday’s Christmas parade incident in Waukesha, Wisconsin, ranged from 52 to 81, Police Chief Daniel Thompson said.
The victims include four women and one man, according to Thompson.
The police chief said he arrived to the scene minutes after the incident occurred. He described seeing heroism amid the chaos and tragedy. First responders and residents worked together to triage the victims and get them as stable as possible, Thompson said during Monday afternoon’s news conference.
Officers and residents took victims to the hospital in their personal vehicles, Thompson said.
Fire Chief Steve Howard said fire department personnel transported 22 patients to six area hospitals.
CNN is working to confirm the spellings of the names of the five deceased victims.
Waukesha, Wisconsin, Police Chief Dan Thompson announced officials are referring five charges of intentional homicide for Darrell E. Brooks, the suspect in Sunday’s incident at the Christmas parade, adding more charges are possible
“At this time, the Waukesha Police Department is referring five counts of first-degree intentional homicide, with additional charges based on the investigation,” Thompson said speaking at a news conference this afternoon.
At least five people were killed and at least 48 more were injured when an SUV plowed into a Christmas parade Sunday in Waukesha, Wisconsin, city officials said.
Officials in Waukesha, Wisconsin, said the suspect in Sunday’s incident at the Christmas parade is Darrell E. Brooks.
Waukesha Police Chief Daniel Thompson said officials believe the 39-year-old acted alone.
Thompson added that Brooks was involved in a domestic disturbance just prior to driving his SUV through the parade Sunday afternoon.
Waukesha, Wisconsin, Police Chief Daniel Thompson said that the suspect was involved in a “domestic disturbance” prior to plowing into a crowd at the Christmas parade that left at least five dead.
“When the suspect was driving through and into the crowd, one officer did discharge his firearm and fire shots at the suspect to stop the threat but due to the amount of people, had to stop, stop and fire — not fire any other additional shots,” he continued.
Thompson added that the officer has been put on administrative leave.
He noted that there is “no evidence” that this is a terrorist incident.
At least 48 people were injured when an SUV slammed into a crowd gathered for a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, Sunday evening, Police Chief Daniel Thompson said at a news conference.
Of the injured, two are children in critical conditions, he said.
At least five people were killed in the parade incident.
President Biden addressed the Waukesha, Wisconsin, parade incident, where five people were killed and dozens were injured, calling it a “horrific act of violence.”
The President offered prayers for the community.
“Last night the people of Waukesha were gathered to celebrate the start of a season of hope and togetherness and Thanksgiving. This morning Jill and I and the entire Biden family, and I’m sure all of us pray that that same spirit is going to embrace and lift up all the victims of this tragedy, bringing comfort to those recovering from their injuries and wrapping the families of those who died in support of their community. We’re all grateful to the extraordinary work of first responders from law enforcement to the emergency room doctors, who are working around the clock to deal with the terrible consequence of what happened last night. My administration is monitoring the situation very closely,” Biden said.
Following Sunday’s Christmas parade incident in Waukesha, at least 10 children are in the ICU at Children’s Wisconsin, officials from the pediatric hospital in Milwaukee told reporters at a press conference Monday.
“They have 10 in ICU at the moment. They said six of those children are in critical condition. Three are in serious and one is in fair condition. These kids range from ages 3 to 16 years old. And there are three sets of siblings among the patients that they have there,” CNN’s Natasha Chen reported.
Waukesha, Wisconsin, city and law enforcement officials will hold a news conference at 2 p.m. ET (1 p.m. local time) at City Hall.
What we know so far: At least five people are dead and more than 40 others are injured after an SUV plowed into a Christmas parade, officials said.
There are indications the Waukesha suspect was fleeing another incident when he drove into the parade route, according to multiple law enforcement sources familiar with preliminary investigation findings.
Children’s Wisconsin, a pediatric hospital in Milwaukee, told CNN that 18 patients were taken to their facility following Sunday’s Christmas parade incident in Waukesha.
CNN had reported earlier that 15 patients were being treated at that hospital, with no fatalities as of Sunday night.
The hospital will hold a news conference at 12 p.m. ET to share information on how they are continuing to treat the children who were injured.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services urged anyone experiencing emotional distress after the deadly crash at the Waukesha Christmas parade to call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline.
The national helpline is powered by the US’s Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
It runs 24/7, 365 days a year, according to the administration’s website.
“This toll-free, multilingual, and confidential crisis support service is available to all residents in the United States and its territories. Stress, anxiety, and other depression-like symptoms are common reactions after a disaster,” the administration says.
At least five people were killed and more than 40 others were injured when an SUV ran into crowds gathered for a holiday parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, Sunday evening.
Parts of the city are closed today as officials continue the investigation into the incident in downtown Waukesha. City Hall is closed to the public today, although media will be allowed in for news conferences.
Roads in the area will remain closed for at least 24 hours, Police Chief Daniel Thompson said. Businesses along roadway where the incident took place should remain closed Monday, city officials said.
Additionally, the School District of Waukesha canceled classes on Monday, according to the school district, and will determine if classes will resume Tuesday.
The Milwaukee Dancing Grannies posted a statement on Facebook Monday, saying members of the group were among the dead in Sunday’s tragedy in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
“Those who died were extremely passionate Grannies,” according to the group’s statement.
At least five people were killed and more than 40 were injured after a red SUV sped into the Waukesha Christmas Parade Sunday afternoon.
Authorities have not released any details on the identities of the victims.
The Milwaukee Dancing Grannies are listed in the parade lineup on the city’s website.
Their statement did not mention how many members of the group were affected or injured in the incident.
The group goes on to say they “are devasted (sic) by this terrible tradegy (sic) with of loss of life and injuries in the Waukesha Christmas parade.”
“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 prayer,” the statement added.
A person of interest is in custody, according to authorities, and an investigation into the incident is ongoing.
