Suspect in Wisconsin Christmas parade crash to appear in court

Police canvass the streets in downtown Waukesha, Wis., after a vehicle ploughed into a Christmas parade hitting dozens of people Sunday. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

The motorist suspected of an attack at a Christmas parade that killed five people and injured at least 48 near Milwaukee, Wisconsin is set to face criminal charges today at his first court appearance since the incident.

Darrell Brooks, 39, is due in Waukesha County Circuit Court later today after authorities said he deliberately drove an SUV through police barricades on Sunday and into the city of Waukesha's annual parade, about 32 km west of Milwaukee.

Waukesha police Chief Daniel Thompson on Monday said his department would refer five counts of first-degree intentional homicide to prosecutors and additional charges could come later as the investigation progresses.

But Waukesha County District Attorney Sue Opper's website said on Tuesday that her office was still deciding what charges to bring against Brooks, a Milwaukee resident arrested near the scene shortly afterwards.

Police have ruled out terrorism as a motive and said Brooks, who was out on bail from a domestic abuse case, acted alone.

Police were not pursuing Brooks when he drove his car through the parade route, but one officer fired shots to try to stop the sport utility vehicle, Thompson said.

The injured included at least 18 children who suffered facial abrasions, broken bones and serious head injuries and were taken to Wisconsin Children's hospital in Milwaukee. 

Six were listed in critical condition, officials said. At least two of the children were since discharged from the hospital.

The five casualties, who ranged in age from 52 to 81, included some members of the "Milwaukee Dancing Grannies" parade group.

"Our hearts are heavy over the loss of our grannies and volunteer," the group said on Facebook on Tuesday, adding some of the injured members were in stable condition and one has been released from a hospital.

The incident drew the attention of President Joe Biden, who called the attack "horrific," and Pope Francis. The Vatican sent a condolence message to the Roman Catholic bishop of Milwaukee on Tuesday.

At one of several vigils and services on Monday, Jeremy Wittig, 39, an information technology professional, said "Waukesha is strong. That’s why we are out here.” 

Video of the incident posted on social media showed a red SUV racing alongside the parade route and then into the procession, appearing to run over more than a dozen people before bystanders raced from sidewalks to help.

Brooks was last released from custody after posting $1,000 cash bond on 11 November, an amount the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office said was "inappropriately low in light of the nature of the recent charges" against him.

Brooks had been charged on 5 November with obstructing an officer, battery, reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct and felony bail jumping in a domestic abuse case, prosecutors and state court records show.

Shortly before Sunday's attack on the parade, police received a domestic disturbance complaint involving Brooks and a knife, Thompson said.