Child injured in US Christmas parade crash dies, taking toll to six
Memorials placed along Main Street in downtown Waukesha Wisconsin left in areas where people were hit by a driver plowing into the Christmas parade on Main Street in downtown November 22, 2021 in Waukesha, Wisconsin. AFP
Multiple life sentences
Brooks appeared in court for his arraignment wearing what appeared to be body armor. His face was masked, hands cuffed and head bowed as a judge said he faced multiple life sentences if found guilty for the deaths. Waukesha officials said there appeared to be no motive for the disaster, other than that Brooks had driven away from some kind of confrontation as police were called to the scene. Court commissioner Kevin Costello set Brooks’ bail at $5 million as his court-appointed attorney said he was “indigent.” “The nature of this offence is shocking,” Costello said. He added two detectives had tried to stop Brooks but that he continued, appearing to intentionally aim at people and swerving from side to side as he drove through the parade. “You are presumed innocent sir, but that’s what the allegations are,” said Costello. ” I have not seen anything like this in my very long career. It seems to be a very strong case for the state.” Questions have been raised meanwhile as to why Brooks, who was arrested in nearby Milwaukee just weeks earlier on multiple charges of domestic abuse for hitting and running over the mother of his child, had been released on a minimal bail of $1,000. Opper recounted to the court a lengthy record of arrests and jumping bail for Brooks going back to 2000. In Wisconsin he had been charged multiple times for minor drug offenses, resisting arrest, weapons charges, and not paying child support, and had served several short stints in jail. He was convicted in Nevada in 2006 and 2007 for domestic battery and ” statutory sexual seduction,” or sex with an underage girl. Earlier this year he was jailed in Georgia for battery and family violence. “There are not words to describe the risk that this defendant presents to our community,” Opper said, asking for the high bail level.
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