Darrell Brooks, accused of driving his vehicle into a Christmas parade near Milwaukee, Wisconsin late last year, pleaded not guilty on February 11 to multiple criminal charges, including the murder of the six people who died in the incident.
In his court appearance, Reuters reports, Brooks, 39, entered the pleas to seventy-seven charges, including six counts of homicide and numerous counts of reckless endangerment, in his court appearance.
Brooks was apprehended near the crime scene in November. He is accused of purposefully driving an SUV through police barricades and into an annual parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, about 20 miles west of Milwaukee.
Brooks was out on bail for a domestic violence case and was suspected of being involved in another violent incident, according to court records.
A red SUV was seen racing alongside the parade route and then into the procession, appearing to run over several people before bystanders rushed to help.
Some members of the “Milwaukee Dancing Grannies” parade group were among the victims, who ranged in age from 8 to 81. More than sixty people were injured in addition to those killed.
Brooks is also charged with Possession of a Firearm By a Felon, following his arrest after the parade, court records state.
“Once the defendant was taken into custody, Officer Bryan Povletich located a Beretta 9mm handgun loaded with seven rounds on the air mattress only a few feet from where the defendant was arrested,” court documents state.
“A check of the firearm revealed that it was listed as stolen out of Greenfield. In addition, Officer Bryan Povletich located a clear plastic baggie containing three multicolored pills on the air mattress. The pills tested presumptively positive for the presence of Methamphetamines using a Field Nark test by Officer Melissa Jacobs.”
“Not guilty plea entered. Bail remains as fixed,” court records showed after the February 11 proceedings.
Brooks remains jailed on a $5 million bail, and a hearing is scheduled for March 11, according to the Wisconsin Circuit Court website.
