Racine Sun

Racine representatives are sharing their condolences following the death of several individuals and the injury of many more after an SUV was driven into Waukesha's 58th annual Christmas parade.

The New York Times reports that at least five people were killed and 40 were wounded during the parade, the theme of which this year was "Comfort and Joy," when a red SUV rammed into the procession at approximately 4:30 p.m., severely injuring dozens of people, including children.

“My thoughts are with the entire Waukesha community and especially the families directly impacted by this horrific attack," State Rep. Greta Neubauer (D-Racine) tweeted. "Thank you to everyone who acted so quickly to respond on the scene tonight, even at great personal risk.”

State Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Rancin) also offered his sympathies to everyone affected by the fatal tragedy.

“Praying for everyone at the Waukesha Holiday parade,” Steil tweeted.

The Waukesha Police Department's Chief Daniel Thompson confirmed that they currently have a person of interest in custody and that officers at the parade fired rounds at the SUV driver in an effort to stop him.

Darrell Brooks Jr., an amateur rapper from the Milwaukee area who was released from prison only days before the parade, has been taken in for questioning but has not been identified as a suspect or officially charged, according to a news.com.au report.

According to Fox News, Brooks has a lengthy criminal record dating all the way back to 1999 and is also a registered sex offender in Nevada.

He was released on $1,000 bond at the time of the incident on charges of reckless endangerment, battery, domestic abuse, resisting arrest and bail jumping.

Additionally, CNN and NBC cited law enforcement sources as saying that there does not seem to be any relation to terrorism or the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict at this time.