Prosecutors File 71 New Charges Against Man Who Allegedly Drove Into Wisconsin Christmas Parade

Prosecutors on Wednesday filed dozens more charges against a man accused of driving through a Wisconsin Christmas parade in November, killing six people and injuring more than 60.

Darrell Brooks, 39, has already been charged with six counts of first-degree intentional homicide. The 71 new counts charge him with 61 counts of recklessly endangering safety, six counts of hit-and-run resulting in death, and two counts each of felony bail jumping and misdemeanor battery.

Brooks is due in court for a preliminary hearing on Friday; he’s being held in Milwaukee County Jail on a $5.2 million bail, WITI reported.

Just before the November 21 parade in Waukesha, Brooks had been released on a $1,000 bail on February 21 after being charged with running a woman over with his SUV.

On the day of the incident, he was fleeing another domestic violence incident when he came upon the parade. He drove over barricades and into the parade, prosecutors said, weaving side-to-side and driving at marchers and spectators, as CrimeOnline previously reported. The complaint against him said he ignored multiple attempts to stop him, and at one point braked, only to accelerate into the crowd.

He exited the parade route over more barricades and abandoned his vehicle, only to be captured a short while later.

Five of the victims died on the day of the parade:  Virginia Sorenson, 79, LeAnna Owen, 71, Tamara Durand, 52, and Wilhelm Hospel, 81 — all part of the Dancing Grannies group, although Hospel was a helper and not a dancer — and 42-year-old Citizen Bank employee Jane Kulich. Eight-year-old Jordan Sparks died two days after the tragedy, the youngest victim.

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[Featured image: Darrell Brooks/Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office]