Waukesha Parade Deaths: Brooks To Appear In Court This Week

WAUKESHA, WI—The man accused of driving a SUV through Waukesha's Christmas Parade on Nov. 21 killing six people will appear in court on Friday morning for a preliminary hearing.

Darrell Brooks Jr., 39, was charged with six counts of first-degree intentional homicide stemming from the events of Nov. 21. Brooks' bail remains at $5 million cash.

Jackson Sparks, 8, was the youngest victim of the violence.

Five others — Virginia Sorenson, 79, LeAnna Owen, 71, Tamara Durand, 52, Jane Kulich, 52, and Wilhelm Hospel, 81 — were also killed. More than 60 people were injured, including children.

Parade participants had filled both White Rock Avenue and East Main Avenue on Nov. 21 when the scene turned deadly.

Paradegoers were spreading apart when a detective saw a red Ford Escape southbound on White Rock Avenue.

People began jumping out of the way of the SUV, the complaint said.

Brooks struck numerous pedestrians, including parade participants and spectators lined along the street, the complaint said.

The officer saw the SUV appear to be intentionally moving side to side, striking multiple people, and bodies and objects were flying in the air, the complaint said.

Another officer shot at and struck the car three times to try to make it stop, the complaint said.

The preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9:15 a.m. in Waukesha County Circuit Court.