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Who are the Dancing Grannies? Parade group hit by speeding SUV in Waukesha tragedy

The Dancing Grannies urged the public to pray after a car plowed through a parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, killing five people and injuring over 40

Update: The Dancing Grannies group updated via a Facebook post on November 22 that they are mourning the loss of some of their members in the Waukesha parade. While the number was not mentioned, the post did mention that  "those who died were extremely passionate Grannies." Read more about it here.

WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN: The Milwaukee Dancing Grannies, a choreographed dance/pompom parade group, urged the public to pray after a car plowed through a Christmas Parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, killing five people and injuring over 40. The SUV reportedly knocked down and injured several people including youngsters waving pompoms and a group of "Dancing Grannies".

According to Waukesha Police Chief Dan Thompson, the "suspect vehicle" was recovered after what is being called a mass casualty event. Investigators now have a “person of interest". The person in custody has been identified as Darrell Edward Brooks Jr, who was found by the cops with the key to a Ford vehicle. The 39-year-old happens to be a career criminal and rapper who performs under the stage name MathBoi Fly. A red SUV, similar to the one that plowed onto the parade at Waukesha can be seen in one of his music videos. 

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Videos of the horrific incident, which are viral on social media, show a red Ford Escape smashing through white barricades before racing down the road towards a high school marching band. The car drove right through the parade as screams filled the air, running over people and driving away as the crowd scattered. 

Who are the Dancing Grannies?

The MIlwaukee Dancing Grannies is an award-winning group formed in 1984. The group performs in about 25 parades each year from Memorial Day to Christmas. The group, which has won a number of trophies, is known for its enthusiasm and smiles. "These grannies practice once a week almost year-round to strive for their best performance. The only requirement for membership is to be a grandmother. Their ages range from the early fifties to the mid-seventies! The count is ever-changing, but they boast of approximately 100 grandchildren and even a few great-grandchildren," Milwaukee Dancing Grannies' website claims. 

Courtney Sisk, a reporter at WISN12News in Milwaukee, tweeted that many members of the Dancing Grannies are hit and are not moving. "Reports of mass causality in Waukesha. An SUV plowed through the Christmas Parade. Witnesses on the phone just told me several members of the “Dancing Grannies” were hit and are not moving. We are on the way," she tweeted.

Some of the Dancing Grannies, who were a part of the recent parade, were knocked down by the speeding SUV, reports have claimed. Following the tragedy, the group took to Facebook and wrote, "Thank you for your concern about the MIlwaukee Dancing Grannies. Members of the group and volunteers were impacted and we are waiting for word on their conditions. Please keep the Grannies, all those injured, and all those who witnessed this horrible event in your thoughts and prayers." 

In another post, the group wrote, "Thank you to all the local, state, national and worldwide media reaching out about the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies. At this time, our focus is on the immediate aftermath of this horrific night and caring for our Grannies, their families and friends. As we are able, we will respond."