Victims of Darrell Brooks Jr.'s attack on the Waukesha Christmas Parade were giving their impact statements as part of his two-day sentence hearing when a mass shooting threat cleared the courtroom on Tuesday (November 15).
Brooks, 40, was convicted last month after killing six people and injuring dozens by driving through the city's 2021 holiday parade.
A handful of victims who lost loved ones and suffered injuries from the attack shared their statements on Tuesday before courtroom proceedings were cut short when Wakeusha County deputies reportedly received a call threatening a mass shooting.
According to WISN's Dan O'Donnell, the caller threatened a mass shooting to "serve justice for Darrell Brooks." Authorities confirmed to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the courtroom was evacuated after a "threat" was called in but they did not specify its circumstances.
Brooks' sentence hearing is in recess while sheriff's deputies increase security, O'Donnell wrote in a tweet Tuesday.
"It is not believed that this is a credible threat, but given the nature of this case, every precaution is being taken to ensure safety," he tweeted. "Proceedings will resume when security is in place."
Before the threat cut victims' statements short, the mother of 8-year-old Jackson Sparks described how her son was "violently ripped" from their family's life.
Sheri Sparks was at the Waukesha Christmas Parade to watch her sons, Tucker and Jackson, march with their baseball team when Brooks' vehicle hit the two. Jackson died after suffering a traumatic brain injury.
"Do you have any idea how gut-wrenching it is to explain to your 12-year-old son that his little brother isn’t going to make it?" Sparks said in her impact statement, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
About 40 victims are set to give statements before Waukesha County Circuit Judge Jennifer Dorow. Dorow is scheduled to hand down the sentence for Brooks, who is facing a minimum of six life sentences and up to hundreds of additional years behind bars for his crimes, on Wednesday (November 16).
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