JAKARTA - The man accused of deliberately driving his car into participants in a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconson that left five people dead and dozens injured last Sunday, Darrel Brooks, faces five counts of first-degree murder after his arrest, Waukesha Police Chief Daniel said. Thompson.
In addition to the five people who died - aged between 52 and 81 - 48 others were injured, including six children who were still hospitalized in critical condition on Monday, authorities said.
Among the victims were members of a parade group calling themselves the "Dancing Grannies," according to a statement posted on Facebook on Monday.
Thompson said the motive for the attack remained a mystery but it was clear the suspect had acted on purpose.
"He drove through the barricades and officers," Thompson explained at a briefing, adding authorities had ruled out terrorism as a motive.
Meanwhile, Sue Opper, the district attorney for Waukesha County, said the suspect was believed to have acted alone. Meanwhile, the FBI is assisting the local police in their investigation.
Police were not after Brooks when he plowed into the march, but an officer opened fire to try to stop the sports vehicle, the police chief said.
"Minutes after the incident occurred, I responded to the scene. And what I saw from the chaos and tragedy were heroes, first responders in the community coming together and working together to sort out the victims," Thompson explained.
Brooks has a criminal history and was recently released on $1,000 bail, an amount the Milwaukee District Attorney's Office called "very low given the nature of the recent charges" against him.
Brooks was charged on November 5 with obstructing an officer, battery, reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct and felony bail skip.
Around the time of Sunday's tragedy, police had also received a domestic nuisance complaint involving Brooks and a knife, but were unable to respond because they were busy with the march, Thompson said.
"Was there any initial complaints about the knife? Yes. Do we know if it was there? We don't know," he said.
The police chief said investigators had no information to suggest Brooks, a resident of Milwaukee, knew anyone at the march.
Separately, US President Joe Biden said his administration was monitoring the situation in Waukesha 'very closely.
"The whole community is struggling, struggling to contain this horrific act of violence," President Biden told reporters.
For information, police identified the five dead as Virginia Sorenson (79), LeAnna Owen (71), Tamara Durand (52), Jane Kulich (52) and Wilhelm Hospel (81).
"It was scary. I saw children getting hit. I'm still so shocked," recalled Waukesha resident Brian Hoffman, 33, who was present when the vehicle hit parade participants, as he sat on the veranda near the scene on Monday.
Video of the incident posted on social media showed a red SUV racing along the Christmas parade route and then into a procession, visibly crashing into more than a dozen people before bystanders dashed off the pavement to help.
Wisconsin Children's hospital officials said at a briefing they were treating 18 children, including six who remained in critical condition and three in serious condition on Monday. The rest are in less severe condition and do not need to be treated. The hospital did not mention any casualties.
A message posted Monday by the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies Facebook page paid tribute to those who lost their lives as "the glue (that) holds us together."
"Those who died were very excited Grandmas. Their eyes sparkled (with) the joy of being a Grandma. Our hearts are heavy at this most difficult time," the message read.
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