"We are working closely with the City of Waukesha Police Department to review the matter and decide what criminal charges will be issued. Initial charges are expected to be filed tomorrow," read the statement.
"Additional charges will be considered at a later time, as the investigation unfolds and the full extent of injuries is known," the statement added.
The District Attorney's Office also expressed its condolences to the crime victims and all those who were affected by the events.
"This tragedy has affected our entire community. We would like to acknowledge the work of the men and women in law enforcement who have done a tremendous job to save lives and protect our community," the statement read.
A candlelight vigil is being held to honor the victims of Sunday's Waukesha Christmas parade incident. The vigil is being organized by the Association of Waukesha Congregations at Cutler Park.
Milwaukee native, Jane Kulich, 52, was representing her employer Citizens Bank, in the Waukesha Christmas parade when she was struck and killed by a red SUV Sunday night, according to her daughter Taylor Smith.
“She was an amazing mom and grandma. Everyone loved her,” Smith told CNN.
Kulich is survived by her three children and three grandchildren.
In a Facebook post Smith wrote, “My mom was killed last night. We are told she didn't suffer.”
The suspect in Sunday's fatal parade incident in Waukesha, Wisconsin, had been released on $1,000 bail earlier this month, according to court records and the Milwaukee County District Attorney's office, which said in a statement released Monday that the bail had been set "inappropriately low."
Brooks posted bail on Nov. 11 in relation to charges, including domestic abuse. That incident also involved Brooks being accused of using a car to cause an injury, according to a criminal complaint.
On Nov. 2, according to the complaint, Brooks ran over a woman with his car while she was walking through a gas station parking lot.
Prosecutors filed five charges related to the incident: obstructing an officer; second-degree recklessly endangering safety with domestic abuse assessments; disorderly conduct with domestic abuse assessments; and misdemeanor battery with domestic abuse assessments.
Brooks was also charged with bail jumping, because he was already out on bail following a July 24, 2020, incident, according to court documents.
In a statement, the Milwaukee County District Attorney's office now said that they should not have recommended such a low bail for Brooks and have launched an internal review into the decision.
“The State’s bail recommendation in this case was inappropriately low in light of the nature of the recent charges and the pending charges against Mr. Brooks,” the office said. “The bail recommendation in this case is not consistent with the approach of the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office toward matters involving violent crime, nor was it consistent with the risk assessment of the defendant prior to setting of bail.”
CNN reached out to Brooks’ attorney from the 2020 incident and the November 2021 incident about the district attorney's office statement but has not yet received a response.
In the initial 2020 incident, Brooks was charged with: two counts of second-degree reckless endangering safety, use of a dangerous weapon; and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
The charging complaint alleges that Brooks fired a handgun during an argument. Authorities said they found a stolen handgun during Brooks' arrest and three “multi colored pills,” which later tested “presumptively positive” for methamphetamines.
Bail had initially been set at $10,000 in that case but because Brooks had asked for a speedy jury trial, which could not be met, bail was reduced to $500. Brooks was released on bail in that case on Feb. 21, according to the district attorney’s office.
Brooks' initial court appearance for the Waukesha Christmas parade incident is scheduled for Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET (4 p.m. local time).
The hearings will be available via livestream for the public to view.
In a news conference on Monday afternoon, authorities said that police would be referring five counts of first intentional homicide, and other charges.
Eighteen children, including three sets of siblings, were taken to Children’s Wisconsin after an SUV barreled through the Waukesha Christmas Parade on Sunday night, Amy Drendel, director of the Emergency Department and Trauma Center, said today.
The children's ages ranged from 3 to 16, Drendel said at a news conference.
“Injuries ranged from facial abrasions to broken bones to serious head injuries. Six of these patients were sent to the operating room last night and two additional patients are undergoing surgeries today,” Drendel said.
“I want to emphasize and express thanks to the community for the effort in their response. That begins with the gratitude for law enforcement who responded to the incident and was able to secure the incident. I want to commend the efforts of the Emergency Medical Services responders and other local hospitals who successfully stabilized patients before transporting or transferring kids to be cared for by our pediatric specialists,” Gutzeit said.
Children’s Wisconsin has contacted each of the patient’s families, Gutzeit said.
“Last night our community was impacted by the tragic and intense incident at a holiday parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Our prayers and thoughts are with the victims and loved ones during this very tragic time,” Gutzeit said. “The injuries from Sunday night will go well beyond the physical and will take time to heal. We all must continue to lean on each other to encourage those impacted to reach out and use the resources that are available to them.”
Children’s Wisconsin said it has mental and behavioral support specialists available to support patients and families who need resources.
The Waukesha School District Superintendent announced that the district will remain closed until the Monday after the Thanksgiving holiday. Schools in the district were closed on today following the parade incident, where five people were killed and dozens were injured.
“Our counseling and lunch services will be available to students and staff again tomorrow,” said Jim Sebert, the superintendent of the Waukesha School district at a news conference. “The district will resume classes after the Thanksgiving holiday per our school calendar on Monday November 29th."
Sebert went on to say that additional resources and assistance will be provided to families with in the Waukesha community.
“Further information and any additional updates will continue to be available on our district websites," said Sebert. "I am deeply sorry that we are here today and we look forward to healing both as a school community, and a larger Waukesha community.”
Johnson said during a news conference that 48 victims of the parade were transported to area hospital, where 29 were taken to Waukesha Memorial Hospital, which Johnson noted was just a few blocks away from the parade route.
"Victims started arriving very quickly after the incident. In fact, many of ProHealth Care staff were attending the parade, witnessed this tragedy, and provided immediate first aid to victims," Johnson said.
Johnson said that both children and adults were brought in to receive care.
"There were many children among the victims brought to Waukesha Memorial. After initial assessment, stabilization and treatment, we transferred 11 of those to Children's of Wisconsin. Four victims were admitted to Waukesha Memorial, they are all currently stable and many of them will likely discharge from the hospital today," he said.
Johnson also said that one victim that was brought to Waukesha Memorial Hospital was pronounced dead on arrival.
Twelve others who were treated in the emergency department were released.
"In addition to those who were on duty at Waukesha Memorial last night, many others rushed to the hospital to help. They included nearly every one of our emergency department physicians, countless surgeons and an anesthesiologists, hospitalists and nurses. What I saw on display last night in response to this crisis was nothing less than the highest level of professionalism," Johnson added.
The victims include four women and one man, according to Thompson.
The police chief said he arrived to the scene minutes after the incident occurred. He described seeing heroism amid the chaos and tragedy. First responders and residents worked together to triage the victims and get them as stable as possible, Thompson said during Monday afternoon’s news conference.
Officers and residents took victims to the hospital in their personal vehicles, Thompson said.
Fire Chief Steve Howard said fire department personnel transported 22 patients to six area hospitals.
CNN is working to confirm the spellings of the names of the five deceased victims.