Six people died and at least another 61 people were injured when a red Ford Escape SUV driven by Darrell Brooks drove through a holiday parade on November 21, 2021. Almost a year later, after a long and intense dramatic legal battle, Brooks has been found guilty.

40 year old Brooks defended himself in court after killing his victims who ranged in age from 8 to 81. It took Waukesha County Circuit Judge Jennifer Dorow about 25 minutes to read the guilty verdicts on all 76 charges.

Brooks’ case garnered national media attention in part due to the liberal policies which allowed him to walk the streets and commit this crime. Brooks had been freed previously on a mere $1,000 bail from an earlier case in Milwaukee County. A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel analysis found that bail to be considerably lower than the average of similar open cases. He also had been assessed as a high risk for release. Nonetheless, he was released on the streets only to commit murder not long after.

City of Waukesha officials welcomed the trial’s end. “I am thankful that the jury found the defendant guilty on all counts,” said Mayor Shawn Reilly. “We can now re-focus on taking steps forward as a community and continue the healing process.”

“The victims’ families as well as our first responders continue to deal with the lasting effects of the horrors of that day,” said Police Chief Dan Thompson. ” We are grateful for the support that has come from all over the world, and we ask you to continue to keep all those involved in your prayers.”

A statement from the city read, in part, “As a community, we still have a long road ahead filled with difficult days. This will be especially true as we approach the one-year anniversary of the tragedy. However, as we have experienced the past year, we know that when we stand together, we remain Waukesha Strong.”