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Who is Darrell Edward Brooks? Suspect arrested after the Waukesha Christmas Parade car incident
A suspect has been taken into custody in relation to the horrific events on Sunday when a red Ford SUV ploughed into crowds at a Wisconsin Christmas parade.
On Sunday afternoon a red Ford Escape SUV ploughed into a crowd who had gathered in Waukesha, Wisconsin to mark the town’s annual Christmas parade. Dozens were hit by the speeding vehicle and at least five people have died, with many more still in critical condition in hospital.
In recent hours many local news networks have reported that Darrell Brooks Jr. has been taken into custody in connection to the tragic incident. NBC News report that multiple law enforcement officials have confirmed that the 39-year-old is in custody.
Before Brooks’ identity was confirmed, Heavy obtained an audio recording of a police scanner which named him as the suspect and directed search teams to an address in Milwaukee where the suspect was believed to be hiding. The report goes on to say that he was found with a key for a Ford vehicle on his person, which matches the car seen on footage of the tragic incident.
Who is Darrell Brooks?
The man in custody is thought to be Darrell Edward Brooks Jr., a 39-year-old with multiple criminal convicts who may currently be out on bail. Local news site Wisconsin Right Now claims that Brooks had two open felony cases in Milwaukee County and a substantial criminal history.
Police have not said anything about the involvement that Brooks may have had in the incident, confirming only that they had arrested “a person of interest.”
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However Jim Piwowarczyk of Wisconsin Right Now has reported that a red SUV, similar to that used on Sunday, appears on Google Maps outside of an address linked to Brooks and in a music video he posted online.
The driver’s motivations are still unexplained but police officials have said that they do not currently believe that it is a terror-related incident. Some outlets have reported that the vehicle was fleeing from the scene of another crime and may have accidentally become embroiled in the Christmas parade.
Clint Watts, a former FBI agent who spoke to local news source MEAWW, said that the footage was “very unusual.”
He said: “I am confused of what to make of it. The driver in some places seemed to deliberately mow over people and other places to dodge them.
“So, I think there is a lot to learn to be honest, and I don't think we should probably jump to any conclusions right at the outset because it is very strange if you've watched any of the video and there is a lot of it online I would not encourage people to watch it because it is traumatic. It is a very strange incident.”