Darrell Brooks Jr. Granted 10th Appeal Extension in Waukesha Parade Homicides

Darrell Brooks Jr., convicted of killing six people and injuring dozens more in the 2021 Waukesha Christmas Parade attack, has been granted his tenth extension to appeal his conviction. The latest motion, approved by the Wisconsin Court of Appeals on September 2, extends the deadline to October 29. Brooks, who is serving multiple life sentences, continues to represent himself in the post-conviction process.

The Waukesha tragedy on November 21, 2021, saw Brooks drive his SUV through the parade route, resulting in the deaths of six individuals and injuries to over 60 others. He was subsequently convicted on 76 charges, including six counts of first-degree intentional homicide and 61 counts of reckless endangerment. Brooks was sentenced in November 2022 to six consecutive life terms plus an additional 762 years.

Prior to the parade attack, Brooks had a history of legal issues and controversial bail decisions. In July 2020, he faced three felony charges, including second-degree recklessly endangering safety, after allegedly shooting at his nephew. His cash bond for this case was initially set at $10,000, then lowered to $7,500 in August 2020, and further reduced to $500 in February 2021, which was posted in May of that year.

Just two days before the Waukesha attack, Brooks was released on a $1,000 bail in a separate Milwaukee County case where he was accused of running over a woman. Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm later stated that the $1,000 bail recommendation was "inappropriately low" due to "human error," sparking widespread public outrage and calls for bail reform. The initial tweet content noted, "There was a GoFundMe to raise bail money for this monster," though web searches primarily show GoFundMe efforts for the victims, not for Brooks's bail.

Brooks has consistently signaled his intent to appeal his conviction since his sentencing in November 2022. He initially had court-appointed counsel but requested to represent himself again in February 2025, a request granted in April. His current incarceration is at the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls. The ongoing series of extensions highlights the complexities and protracted nature of high-profile appeals.