Did Darrell Brooks want to kill as many as possible? Zigzag driving and acceleration probed
In the latest update to the Waukesha tragedy, the affidavit against suspect Darrell Brooks revealed horrifying details about the carnage at the Christmas parade on November 21, that left 6 dead and over 62 injured. Brooks, a career criminal with a lengthy history of past arrests, was taken into custody and charged with 5 counts of intentional murder. Investigators later found that the 39-year-old suspect devised strategies to ensure maximum number of deaths while plowing down the parade with his SUV.
It has been mentioned in the criminal complaint against Brooks that he drove in zigzag to hit as many as possible with his car. He also paused briefly before accelerating at full speed to inflict the worst level of injury on the victims. According to eyewitnesses at Waukesha, bodies were flying everywhere as Brooks sped through the middle of the crowd and hit elderly women and children. As per latest reports, five senior women and one 8-year-old boy have died from the horrifying attack while 62 people are still critically injured.
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According to the affidavit against Brooks, Detective Casey who was working in the area observed people in the parade jumping out of the way when a red Ford Escape was driving southbound. Despite the cop yelling 'Stop' multiple times, the car did not stop and continued driving. "At that time, the vehicle was driving at a slow speed and the vehicle brushed Detective Casey back off of the front of the car, causing him to be positioned down the driver's side of the vehicle. Detective Casey went to the driver's side window and pounded on the driver's side door yelling, "Stop". Detective Casy subsequently positively identified the driver of the Ford Escape as Darrell E. Brooks, Jr, DOB: 2/21/82, hereinafter referred to as the defendant," read the statement.
The complaint further described, "The defendant drove past Detective Casey and into the parade procession. Detective Casey chased the vehicle to East Avenue on foot and he observed that the vehicle begin to drive faster. Detective Casey broadcast over the radio that the red Ford Escape had entered the parade route and he needed squads to respond in an emergency fashion. A few seconds later, Detective Casey heard on the police radio that the vehicle was striking people and was continuing westbound on East Main Street. While the defendant was driving westbound on East Main Street, he struck numerous pedestrians, which included both parade participants and spectators located on the side of the street."
In another part of the statement, it has been mentioned that Brooks was driving his car at an approximate speed of 25 miles per hour. "The vehicle was initially sticking to the north side of the road, in the open lane between the parade participants and spectators. Officer Butryn observed the driver looking straight ahead, directly at him, and it appeared he had no emotion on his face," it stated.
"As the vehicle got to approximately Martin Street, it appeared to Officer Butryn that the vehicle began to increase its speed. As the vehicle was traveling westbound, the vehicle began getting closer to parade spectators, and almost struck a small juvenile who was standing in one of the parking stalls on the north side of the road as its speed was increasing......The vehicle then appeared to rapidly accelerate, as Officer Butryn heard tires squeal. The vehicle took an abrupt left turn into the crowd of parade participants. At this point, it was clear to Officer Butryn that this was an intentional act to strike and hurt as many people as possible," mentioned the statement.
An eyewitness indicated that the SUV "continued to drive in a zig zag motion". They felt that the car was trying to avoid other cars but not people. Brooks did not make any attempt to stop or slow down his car even while hitting the people, as another witness added that it was "a direct intent to hit as many parade participants."