Wisconsin Christmas parade: what happened in Waukesha after SUV killed 5 - what has driver been charged with?

The driver of the vehicle which ploughed into a Christmas parade on Sunday (21 November) will be charged with five counts of intentional homicide, Wisconsin officials have said.

US police confirmed that at five people were killed after a car ploughed into the Christmas parade in the city of Waukesha, and more than 40 were also said to have been injured.

This is everything you need to know.

What happened?

Just before 5pm local time on Sunday (21 November), a red SUV drove through a Christmas parade in the city of Waukesha, in Wisconsin.

More than 40 adults and children were injured in the incident, and five dead.

Police Chief Dan Thompson told the media that the police had opened fire on the vehicle in an attempt to stop it.

The parade is held annually in Waukesha on the Sunday before the US holiday of Thanksgiving. The theme for this year’s parade was “comfort and joy”.

How many died?

The victims of the incident were named on Monday. They were:

• Wilhelm Hospel, 81
• Virginia Sorenson, 79
• LeAnna Owen, 71
• Tamara Durand, 52
• Jane Kulich, 52

At the time of the incident, Fire Chief Steven Howard told reporters that the fire department had transported 11 adults and 12 children to nearby hospitals. A number of others also took themselves to the hospital to be treated for their injuries.

Thompson said that, despite reports from social media, it did not appear that any gunshots were fired from within the car.

Angelito Tenorio, who had attended the parade, told local news outlet the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: “As we were walking back in between the buildings we saw an SUV cross over, just put the medal to the metal and just zooming full speed along the parade route.

“And then we heard a loud band and just deafening cries and screams from people who [were] struck by the vehicle.”

Has anyone been arrested?

Officials named Darrell Edward Brooks Jr, 39, as the driver who killed five people and injured many others.

Speaking to reporters at a news conference on Monday, Thompson said: “A lone subject intentionally drove his maroon SUV through barricades and into a crowd of people that was celebrating the Waukesha Christmas parade.”

He said that police were responding to a domestic incident which involved Brooks when he fled the scene and drove his car into the parade.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Brooks is currently facing at least five other criminal charges on top of the homicide charges, including for domestic abuse and battery. He had reportedly also been released from jail on bond just two days prior.

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