The ex-con charged with killing five people at a Wisconsin Christmas parade was ordered held on $5 million at his first court appearance Tuesday — with prosecutors revealing that he’ll be hit with a sixth homicide count after a child struck in the Sunday attack has died.
Darrell Brooks, 39, who was only free because he was cut loose on “inappropriately low” bail in an unrelated case, now faces little chance of making bail and will spend the rest of his life behind bars if he’s convicted.
“There are not words to describe the risk that this defendant presents to our community,” prosecutor Susan Opper told Waukesha County Court Commissioner Kevin Costello in court.
“Not only flight risk but the dangerousness that he presents, his history of violence and the allegations in this complaint where it is stated plainly that on several occasions he was told to stop by police officers,” she said. “They risked their own safety to try and step in front of the car to stop him.”
“Everything was done to get him to stop, and he just simply continued down the roadway, causing death and destruction in his path.”
Brooks is charged with five counts of first-degree intentional homicide in the attack Sunday at the Waukesha Christmas parade, but Opper said he will be hit with a sixth charge following the death Tuesday of Jackson Sparks, 8, who had been in critical condition after the attack.
Each homicide count carries a potential sentence of life without parole. Wisconsin does not have a death penalty statute.
“I wish to notify the court sadly that today we learned of another death of a child related to this case,” Opper said. “We do expect a sixth count for first-degree intentional homicide to be issued, or added, excuse me, to this case.”
“I can advise the court that I am aware … that there are other individuals in critical condition,” she added.
Brooks bowed his head during the proceedings and at one point appeared to weep as Costello detailed his lengthy criminal record.
Police said Brooks, a wannabe rapper with a lengthy criminal record, was fleeing a domestic disturbance when he barreled past police barricades and onto the parade route, where he mowed down marchers and spectators.
In addition to the fatalities, authorities say 62 people were injured during the attack, including children still in critical condition.
Among the victims was a young dance troupe and the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies, who said they lost three members in the tragedy.
A criminal complaint in the case reveals chilling details of the deadly vehicular attack, with cops reporting that Brooks “had no emotion on his face” as he drove through the crowded parade route.
Two officers tried to stop the SUV, yelling and in one instance banging on the hood, only to be thrown aside by the vehicle, the complaint said.
One cop said he “heard tires squeal” as the vehicle turned into the crowd.
“At this point, it was clear to Officer (Bryce) Butryn that this was an intentional act to strike and hurt as many people as possible,” the complaint said.
Cops caught up with Brooks nearby, initially identifying him as a person of interest in the case before filing the homicide charges.
Compounding the tragedy, prosecutors admitted this week that Brooks should have already been in jail — he was released on “inappropriately low” bail just days earlier.
Brooks was charged in that case with allegedly punching and running over the mother of his child at a local gas station on Nov. 2, but was released on a $1,000 bond.
“The allegations in that case, your honor, is that he struck the mother of his child in the face with a closed fist, and then as she was walking away from him, he intentionally ran her over with his vehicle,” Opper said Tuesday.
“The vehicle in that matter … is believed to be the same maroon 2010 Ford Escape used in the allegations in this case,” she said.
According to records, Brooks had another pending assault case from July 2020 — in which he was released in March when his $7,500 bail was dropped to just $500 — and has an open sex assault warrant in Nevada.
Just minutes before Sunday’s parade, Brooks got into a dispute with his ex-girlfriend, who neighbors said had to flee her home barefoot and with a black eye to escape him.
Waukesha Police Chief Daniel Thompson said Brooks fled the domestic violence scene before cops responded — and launched the attack on the parade while fleeing.
An amateur rapper who calls himself Mathboi Fly, Brooks reportedly used the red Ford Escape SUV he allegedly drove into the parade in a rap video.
In court Tuesday, Opper noted that Brooks has a lengthy criminal record that spread across three states — Wisconsin, Nevada and Georgia — including for bail-jumping, resisting arrest and obstruction.
Although he has no prior criminal cases in Waukesha, the prosecutor said he does have a pending paternity case dating to 2003.
“There’s been returned court appearances over the years based on failure to pay child support,” she said, adding he has been jailed in the past for failing to do so.
In agreeing to the $5 million bail requested by prosecutors, Costello said the parade attack “seems to be a very strong case for the state.”
“I’m an old guy who has been doing this for almost 40 years,” the court commissioner said. “DA’s office, criminal defense attorney, 17, 18 years as a commissioner both in Milwaukee and now in Waukesha.”
“The nature of this offense is shocking,” he said. “I’ve not seen anything like this in my very long career.”
