Darrell Brooks officially received six life sentences on top of 700 years in prison on Wednesday after being found guilty of driving a car into a Christmas parade crowd and claiming six lives and wounding dozens.
Last month, The Shade Room reported that a jury unanimously found Brooks, 40, guilty all 76 counts connected to the attack, including six counts of first-degree intentional homicide with the use of a dangerous weapon – in this case, his car.
Judge Imposed Ridiculously Lengthy Sentence, No Chance For Extended Supervision
Judge Jennifer Dorow imposed the sentence following two days of statements from victims and family members, and removed the possibility of extended supervision for the six counts of homicide, according to CNN.
The sentences will run consecutively, she said.
Let's remember what #DarrellBrooks said today:
He's a follower of Jesus Christ.
He has repented.
He now takes the high road.
Blah, blah, blah.This is the real Darrell Brooks: pic.twitter.com/NrPHMhdFWT
— Cathy Russon (@cathyrusson) November 16, 2022
Judge Dorow also included an additional 700 years for the remaining 70 counts, with a sentence of 17.5 years for each of the 61 counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety with the use of a dangerous weapon.
Dorow did not hold back when imposing the sentences, saying he has “absolutely no remorse” and that “no one is safe from you.”
Judge Tells Brooks “No One Is Safe From You… You Have No Sympathy For Anyone”
“You have absolutely no remorse for anything that you do. You have no empathy for anyone,” Dorow said. “Frankly, Mr. Brooks, no one is safe from you.”
Meanwhile, Brooks addressed the court for over two hours, saying he still struggles to understand why the deadly incident happened.
“The why, the how,” Brooks said. “How could life ever get this far away from what it should be? Regardless of what a lot of people may think about me, about who I am, about my family, about my beliefs, I know who I am. God knows who I am, and I don’t have any words of anger.”
Brooks Calls Out District Attorney Integrity, Says He Will Never Respect “How You Do Your Job”
Brooks went on to say he was not going to “throw shots” at anyone because he wanted to take the “high road,” before calling out the Waukesha County District Attorney Susan Opper’s integrity. He said he will never respect “how you did your job” and claims his crimes were none of her concern.
Brooks’ grandmother, Mary Edwards, said she prayed he would “sincerely and humbly apologize,” before apologizing herself “to those who have been hurt so badly by what has happened, this tragedy that has been caused by my grandson.”
WATCH | Here's the moment Judge Jennifer Dorow reads the six consecutive life sentences for Darrell Brooks, concluding a nearly year-long pursuit of justice in the Waukesha Christmas Parade tragedy: pic.twitter.com/uYtM0rnq1A
— Victor Jacobo (@victorjacobo_) November 16, 2022
Brooks represented himself and ended up apologizing only once, adding that no one can see the regret he feels.
“I want you to know not only am I sorry for what happened, I’m sorry that you could not see what’s truly in my heart, that you cannot see the remorse that I have,” he told the court. “That you cannot count all the tears that I have dropped in this year.”
Brooks’ Family Raises Concerns Of Mental Health, Judge Immediately Shuts It Down
Brooks’ family attempted to raise concerns over his state of mind, Judge Dorow shut that down immediately, saying mental health issues were not the reason behind his deadly crimes.
Dorow cited four mental health evaluations as she said Brooks understood the difference between right and wrong, and yet he still has no remorse for anyone, she said.
BREAKING: Darrell Brooks given 6 consecutive life sentences for Waukesha Christmas Parade massacre
Full Story and Full Video In the thread below pic.twitter.com/LLZgYZiINt
— Ken Winsor (@KenWinsor4) November 17, 2022
“Do the mentally ill sometimes commit atrocious crimes? They do. This is not one of those situations,” Dorow said. “There are many times, many times, good people do bad things, but there are times when evil people do bad things.
Brooks Had Been Charged And Released With Domestic Abuse Just Weeks Before Parade Massacre
Dorow went on to tell Brooks “there is no medication or treatment for a heart that is bent on evil.”
Brooks has stated he intends to appeal his conviction.
He had previously been charged with domestic abuse after reportedly running over a woman who claimed to be the mother of his child, according to court documents.
In that case, which took place less than two weeks before the parade massacre, Brooks was released from jail on a measly $1,000 bail.
Prosecutors later acknowledged the bail set was “inappropriately low,” CNN reports.
