Darrell Brooks Jr.: What we know about suspect in the Waukesha Christmas parade tragedy

Police in Waukesha, Wisconsin, have named a suspect in connection with the Waukesha Christmas parade tragedy.

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Darrell Brooks Jr., 39, was initially named as a person of interest and taken into custody by law enforcement authorities Sunday after his identification was found in a red SUV that police say slammed through the city’s holiday parade, killing at least five and injuring more than 40 people. Brooks will be charged with five counts of first-degree intentional homicide when he makes a court appearance Tuesday, law enforcement said.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice is aiding in the investigation, according to Thompson.

Here is what we know about Brooks:

• Two law enforcement officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, identified Brooks as the person of interest.
• Investigators are looking into whether Brooks was fleeing from a crime when the car raced into the parade, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press and NBC News. Thompson said that there was no law inforcement pursuit that led to the incident.

• Online court records showed that a person named Darrell Brooks, with a birthdate making him 39, has two open criminal cases in Milwaukee County.
• In one case, filed Nov. 5, he is charged with resisting or obstructing an officer, reckless homicide, disorderly conduct, bail jumping and battery. Brooks was released from jail Friday after posting bond in the recent incident, according to court records.
• In the other case, filed in July 2020, Brooks is charged with reckless endangering and illegal possession of a firearm.
• While the driver’s motives are unknown, police officials have said that they do not believe that it is a terror-related incident and that Brooks acted along on Sunday.
• Some social media users have identified Brooks as a rapper who goes by the name MathBoi Fly.

• In a video made by MathBoi Fly and posted on Twitter, a red SUV, the same type as the one that was driven through the parade, can be seen in the background. Police have not confirmed that Brooks is the rapper or if the SUV was the one driven through the parade.
• Brooks is facing five counts of first-degree intentional homicide. According to Thompson, Brooks was not injured when he was taken into custody.
• Thompson said he did not believe that Brooks knew anyone who was in the parade. He said Brooks went through the barricades set up along the parade route and past the officers stationed there.

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