The Christmas parade was supposed to be a party in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Hundreds of families had gathered, warmly dressed because of the cold, to attend the parade of school orchestras and many dance schools. At around 4:40 p.m., Sunday, November 21, a red SUV entered the parade, killing about 20 people. ” Several ” people were killed, according to the local police chief, but their number was not confirmed by the authorities in the evening, while waiting to be able to contact all the bereaved families. Eleven adults and twelve children were hospitalized in nearby hospitals.
An unidentified person was arrested. The immobilized and dented vehicle is in the hands of the investigators. An officer would have fired several times in the direction of the SUV, to stop its murderous course, as it was about to hit a roadblock. Amateur videos seized the car going up the procession very quickly, without zigzagging, before rushing into an orchestra, then moving away. The screams of the crowd followed the musical instruments that punctuated this 58e parade of history. Very quickly, in the general panic, the help was put in place to rescue the victims, on the asphalt of Main Street, the main artery of the city.
Shots to stop the SUV’s murderous course
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee, which is about thirty kilometers away, said a priest and children at Waukesha Catholic school were affected. The Milwaukee Dancing Grannies, a friendly of elderly women, all grandmothers, who are used to parades, also said on Facebook that “ group members and volunteers ” were among the victims. In 2020, the Christmas parade was canceled due to the Covid-19 epidemic.
The police refused to give the slightest indication of the first elements collected or to favor one of the three hypotheses: an attack, loss of control of the vehicle or a fleeing driver. A press conference is scheduled for midday on Monday. In the meantime, an emergency center has been set up for families looking for a loved one. Schools in the district will be closed on Monday. The drama area is closed to the public for further investigation. Photos and television footage showed blankets, chairs and strollers scattered across the sidewalks. Town Mayor Shawn Reilly called the drama“Horrible and meaningless act”. Waukesha celebrates its 125 this yeare birthday. The White House has said it is closely monitoring the situation and awaiting the first results of the investigation.