WAUKESHA, Wis. (Court TV) — The man convicted last year in the Waukesha Christmas Parade attack was back in court Thursday.
Darrell Brooks appeared before a Milwaukee County judge, who scheduled two trials this summer in outstanding felony cases.
Brooks is serving six consecutive life sentences plus an additional 762 years for the November 21, 2021 parade attack. Brooks killed six people and injured dozens more when he drove his SUV into the holiday parade crowd.
Brooks represented himself in that case, and quickly gained national attention largely due to his daily courtroom antics, near-constant interruptions, inability to stifle emotions, and knack for getting himself kicked out of the courtroom.
Brooks, 41, has filed a notice to appeal his conviction in the parade crash case.
READ MORE: WI v. Darrell Brooks: Deadly Parade Crash Trial
The most recent felony charges Brooks faces are unrelated to the parade crash case. On June 26, Brooks is set to face trial for running over the mother of his child with his SUV — an incident that precipitated the parade crash. On July 10, he’s set to go on trial on weapons charges.
Darrell Brooks delivers his closing argument.
Brooks will not be representing himself this time around.
The first case, set for trial this coming July, was filed back in July 2020 — before the Waukesha crash even occurred. Prosecutors say Brooks fired a gun at his nephew during an argument. He’s charged with two counts of second-degree recklessly endangering safety, use of a dangerous weapon, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Two other cases against Brooks will be combined within one trial in June. The second case was filed in November 2021 — the same month and year of the parade crash. Brooks is charged with resisting an officer, felony bail jumping, domestic abuse and battery.
Darrell Brooks objects to testimony as he appears via video from an adjacent courtroom after being removed by Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Jennifer Dorow for repeated interruptions in a Waukesha County Circuit Court during the third day of his trial in Waukesha, Wis., Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022. (Scott Ash/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel via AP, Pool)
According to prosecutors, Brooks ran over his ex-girlfriend, Erika Patterson, in a gas station parking lot. According to a complaint, Brooks punched Patterson when she refused to get in his vehicle.
When Patterson tried to walk away, he allegedly ran her over as she set off on foot through the parking lot. Patterson suffered tire tracks on her leg and a bloodied face. According to Waukesha police, that incident occurred just moments before Brooks plowed that same SUV into the parade crowd.
In the third case filed in December 2021, charges against Brooks include victim intimidation, witness intimidation, and felony bail jumping. According to prosecutors, Brooks tried to intimidate Patterson so she would refuse to cooperate with investigators in the gas station attack. He also tried to get her to put up money for his bail.
Brooks’ mother eventually posted his $1,000 bail, and on November 16, 2021, he appeared before a Waukesha County judge via phone for failure to pay child support. Brooks was then released on his own recognizance.
Five days later, the fight between Brooks and Patterson at the gas station led to Brooks storming off and attacking the parade crowd.
