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Darrell Brooks sentencing: Waukesha parade victims' statements interrupted by threat to courthouse

Judge Jennifer R Dorrow explained the threat after resuming the proceedings shortly after 11 am after the threat was investigated

WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN: During Darrell Brooks Jr's two-day ongoing sentence hearing, an unspecified and anonymous threat was reported to the Waukesha County Communication Center which abrupted the courthouse proceedings and cut short the impact statements of the victims on Tuesday morning, November 15, while the courtroom was also cleared. The victims were sharing their heartwrenching stories of the attack on the city's holiday parade when Brooks drove into them in his SUV and killed six people.

However, the Waukesha County Courthouse resumed as the building was made secure with increased security in and out of the venue. Pictures from courthouse also showed law enforcement in tactical gear at the doors of the courthouse. 

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Judge Jennifer R Dorrow explained the threat after resuming the proceedings shortly after 11 am after the threat was investigated. She said that she was not going to stop these proceedings and that she was confident to go forward with the sentencing, "Shortly before 10 am when I was asked by the Sheriff to meet with him and I was advised at that time that the communications center had received a threat to the courthouse. As everyone is aware it is now 11.14 am, and the sheriff has assured me that the building is quite safe and very secure and that he has taken all measurable measures to secure the courthouse. This time I am not going to stop these proceedings, we will continue and I will rely on the Sheriff's department and the law enforcement personnel if anything changes. I apologize for the abrupt disruption previously but I am confident we can go forward."

Brooks, 40, of Milwaukee, was found guilty on October 26 of killing six people and injuring dozens more by driving through the 2021 Christmas parade. On the first day of Brooks' sentence hearing, those who lost their loved ones or were injured in the attack will read impact statements. Before Waukesha County Circuit Judge Jennifer Dorow sentences Brooks on Wednesday, Novemeber 16, approximately 40 victims will make their statements.

Meanwhile, social media has also erupted against what they called inhumane behavior when Brooks seemed to roll his eyes at the victims statement during the sentence hearing. "Watching #DarrellBrooks rolling his eyes and what seems like to me at times to smile under his mask (or at least mutter to himself) is so infuriating. Im boiling with anger towards him and crying with the victims as they are forced to relive that horrible day once again," a user wrote. Another said, "When victims speak #DarrellBrooks rolls his eyes & twirls his hands as if to say “hurry up.” He also pats his chest with a spread-open right hand. Does anyone know what he is signaling? He pats his chest with every victim. #DarrellBrooksTrial"

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