What is Darrell Brooks charged with? Waukesha Parade attacker sentenced to life in prison

On Wednesday, November 17, Darrell Brooks was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of extended supervision. The Waukesha Parade attacker was convicted last month for driving his red Ford Escape through the Christmas parade.

Last month, Darrell Brooks, 40, was found guilty on 76 counts, including six counts of intentional homicide, which carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison. On Wednesday, the judge ruled that Brooks will have to serve a life sentence without the possibility of extended supervision for each of the six counts of first-degree intentional homicide with the use of a dangerous weapon.

The verdict came on the heels of two days of victims' emotional statements during Brooks’s sentencing hearing, where grief-stricken families expressed their anguish and trauma over the loss of their loved ones.

Darrell Brooks was arrested and charged in the November 2021 attack where he plowed through people at the Waukesha Parade Christmas parade, killing six people and injuring dozens more.

Darrell Brooks has been sentenced on all 76 counts

On Wednesday, as the families of the victims watched on, the Judge imposed sentences for the remaining 70 counts, in addition to six consecutive life terms.

The judge, who described Brooks's conduct in court as unremorseful, sentenced Brooks to 17.5 years for each of the 61 counts in the first degree for recklessly endangering the safety of citizens. The judge, while issuing the verdict, said:

Brooks, who was combative during the conviction trial, was seen rolling his eyes during his sentencing hearing as the families of victims addressed the assailant with impassioned statements.

Darrell Brooks addressed the court during the hearing

As per CNN, Darrell Brooks, who spoke for more than two hours on Wednesday, only apologized to his victims once. He also told the court he too struggled to grasp the tragic events of last year. Brooks, while addressing the court, said:

During the hearing, family members of Darrell Brooks addressed the court, speaking at length about mental health issues. However, the judge disagreed with their concerted statements defending Brooks, citing testimonies from witnesses and mental health professionals. The judge concluded that mental health issues were not a factor that drove Brooks to commit the crime.

About the author

Anushree is a US Trending News Specialist at Sportskeeda. After completing her Masters in Journalism from the prestigious Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media in 2017, Anushree worked with the likes of the Hindu, IBT, Times Internet, and One India for 7 years, covering a wide range of topics as a hardcore journalist and a Features writer.

Before creating content, Anushree does a lot of research, exploring old and new reports from credible sources and cross-checking them alongside other reliable sources from the web. She likes the reporting and researching aspect of her job the most as it allows her to gain insights into things that she wouldn't have known otherwise.

Anushree has also had the privilege of interviewing renowned author and television host Padma Lakshmi for the Hindu in 2017.

After signing off from work, Anushree loves to go on walks and hikes. She also enjoys reading and watching a lot of mass media content, especially reality television.

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