The people of Waukesha, Wisconsin continue to mourn after the horrific attack at the holiday parade on Sunday, November 21, 2021.

A red SUV drove into the route of the holiday parade killing five people and injuring about 60 others. Tamara Durand (52), Virginia Sorenson (79), Leanna Owen (71), Jane Kulich (52), and Wilhelm Hospel (81) were the five first reported deaths of the attack. Durand, Sorenson, and Owen were all part of the parade’s performance, being part of “The Milwaukee Dancing Grannies”. Hospel was also present, volunteering with his wife and handing out water to the group. The group has since posted pictures of the four on social media pages, mourning their loss and remembering them fondly.

Of the 60 other attendees and performers who were injured, 18 were children and were sent for pediatric care at Children’s Wisconsin, the youngest being only three years old. Of those 18 children, 6 were in critical condition, however, on Tuesday, it was reported that one of the children, an eight-year-old boy named Jackson Sparks, had succumbed to his injuries and died due to a brain injury sustained during the attack. With Sparks’ death, the death count for the attack has now risen to six. Jackson not only leaves behind his parents but also his 12-year-old older brother, Tucker. Tucker was also injured during the attack, sustaining a fractured skull and road rash.

The suspect has since been identified as Darrell E. Brooks, a 39-year-old man from Milwaukee. It was reported by law enforcement and other bystanders that the attack was very much intentional. One witness reported that “It was like the SUV was trying to avoid vehicles, not people. There was no attempt made by the vehicle to stop, much less slow down.” Brooks was driving a maroon 2010 Ford Escape during the attack.

After his identity was announced, it was discovered that Brooks had an extensive criminal record spanning as long as 22 years. It was also found that he served two jail sentences and was required to attend anger management programs. His most recent arrest was actually three weeks preceding the attack. The mother of his child had called law enforcement and reported that he had punched her in the face and then followed her to a gas station parking lot, hitting her with the same car that he later used at the parade. Brookes was released on bail on November 11 for $1,000, which was extremely low considering the seriousness of the charges that he was facing. Before his attack at the parade, he was the subject of another domestic disturbance with the same woman, but he left shortly before the police could arrive, getting into his Ford Escape and driving towards the parade.

Brooks has been charged with five counts of first-degree intentional homicide, but was recently given another after Jackson Sparks’ death was announced. With six counts of first-degree intentional homicide, each has a sentence of 25 years to life. Brooks was also set with a bail of $5 million, which he is unlikely to pay.

Eunho Jung, Wayne Hills Senior and Patriot Press Senior Editor, shared her general thoughts on the situation in Waukesha. “I think what happened is absolutely terrifying and horrendous. Families and members of the community were gathered to celebrate, but a deranged individual killed and injured innocent people. I hope he faces serious charges and faces time in prison.”

Monday night, hundreds of citizens of Waukesha participated in a candlelight vigil. The vigil took place at Cutler Park, in the downtown of the city where the parade was originally set to end. The families of the deceased and injured have asked for privacy as they mourn and/or handle the circumstances that they are dealing with.

Multiple GoFundMe pages have been started, to cover costs of medical expenses and/or funeral costs, such as:

• https://gofund.me/cd45cede
  • For the funeral costs of Jackson Sparks and medical expenses for Tucker Sparks.
• https://gofund.me/6d2c21cf
  • Dedicated for memorial costs for Virginia “Ginny” Sorenson.
• https://gofund.me/5b7dfbdc
  • Help to cover costs to say goodbye to Jane Kulich.
• https://gofund.me/c2b1fbdd
  • Jessalyn (11) was one of the children sent to Children’s Wisconsin and was hit directly by Brooks. She is currently on life support and sustained many injuries including lung damage, loss of a kidney, etc.
• https://gofund.me/caac810c
  • Dedicated to helping family members of the Waukesha Xtreme Dance Team who are struggling to pay for their children’s medical expenses and loss of work.

There are many pages dedicated to dozens of victims that need help, so here are a handful and the more pressing, and I encourage you to help out if you can, either by donating to these pages or finding some on your own.