Waukesha Christmas Parade Suspect Found Guilty of Homicide

Darrell Brooks, who drove an SUV into a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin in November 2021, was found guilty of all 76 charges on Wednesday — including six counts of first-degree intentional homicide. 

Key Quotes: Waukesha County District Attorney Susan Opper argued that Brooks’ actions were intentional, saying, “He reached speeds of approximately 30 mph. That’s intentional. He plowed through 68 different people. 68. How can you hit one and keep going?” Brooks represented himself in court and frequently clashed with Judge Jennifer Dorow, who often had him participate virtually so his outbursts could be muted. As Dorow read the jury’s verdict, she paused to order the removal of a person who shouted, “Burn in hell you piece of s---,” from the courtroom gallery. 

For Context: Each of Brooks’ homicide convictions carries a mandatory life sentence in Wisconsin. Brooks has a pre-existing criminal history, and he was released on $1,000 bail just two weeks before the parade killings in a domestic abuse case. Shortly after the incident, some on the right accused CNN (Left bias) and The Washington Post (Lean Left bias) of media bias for attributing the deaths to “a car” rather than the man driving it. 

How the Media Covered It: Coverage was widespread and mostly balanced across the spectrum on Wednesday. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Center bias) called the incident a “devastating attack on a hallowed city tradition.”