Darrell Brooks Jr., who drove through Waukesha Christmas Parade, charged in sixth homicide after boy’s death
The man who drove an SUV through the Waukesha Christmas Parade a week ago has been slapped with a sixth homicide charge in the wake of the death of the youngest victim, 8-year-old Jackson Sparks.
Darrell Brooks Jr. was charged Monday with a sixth count of first-degree intentional homicide, the Waukesha County District Attorney’s Office said. Each count carries a mandatory life sentence.
Jackson died on Tuesday, bringing to six the number of people who died when Brooks, possibly fleeing a domestic disturbance, mowed down holiday revelers last Sunday, killing five that night and injuring more than 60, many of them children and teens. Jackson died two days later.
Jackson had been walking in the parade with his 12-year-old brother Tucker, who was also hurt but is recovering, according to a family GoFundMe page.
More charges could be forthcoming, as Waukesha County District Attorney Sue Opper could add attempted homicide or reckless endangerment and reckless injury related to the victims who did survive, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. A decision on that was still pending Monday.
Of the other injured children, several Xtreme dance team members are still in intensive care, and at least one child is still on a ventilator, the Journal Sentinel reported.
The criminal complaint, which was updated to include Jackson’s death, stated that Brooks had ample opportunity to exit the parade but drove faster instead and, according to witnesses, zig-zagged in an apparent attempt to hit as many people as possible, the Journal Sentinel said. He had a long criminal history leading up to the incident, and police reports from a prior case indicated he has mental health problems and is supposed to be taking medications, the Journal Sentinel said.
The other victims who died were Virginia Sorenson, 79; Leanna Owen, 71; Tamara Durand, 52; Jane Kulich, 52; and Wilhelm Hospel, 81.
Brooks is being held on $5 million bail. His next court date is for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 14.
