Waukesha parade victims named including three members of Dancing Grannies group
Three members of the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies group are among five people dead after a US Christmas parade turned to tragedy.
The group had been performing in Waukesha, Wisconsin, on Sunday afternoon when Darrell E Brooks allegedly drove his Ford Escape into the parade.
Virginia Sorenson, 79, LeAnna Owen, 71, and Tamara Durand, 52, were killed along with Wilhelm Hospel, 81, whose wife Lola was part of the group.
The red SUV was seen seconds before it allegedly hit the parade. Pic: City of Waukesha/Facebook
Also killed was bank employee Jane Kulich, 52.
The Dancing Grannies had been founded in 1984 and usually performed 25 times a year, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The newspaper described the group as “an act…who with their pom-poms, sense of humour and moxie have entertained crowds across the area for decades”.
Mrs Sorenson, a nurse, was a 19-year veteran of the group and, with her husband, had three children and six grandchildren.
Mrs Durand, a former teacher who cared for her grandson four days a week so her daughter could attend nursing school, was making her debut with the group.
Five people died after the vehicle allegedly hit the Christmas parade. Pic: AP
Her husband David told the Journal Sentinel: “She danced her way through life
“She danced when there was no music. She always danced. That describes her personality.”
Ms Owen managed a 32-unit apartment complex and was described as someone who “didn’t have a mean bone in her body”.
On Facebook the group said its members were “devastated by the terrible tragedy”.
They added: “Our group was doing what they loved, performing in front of crowds in a parade putting smile on faces of all ages, filling them with joy and happiness.
“While performing, the grannies enjoyed hearing the crowds’ cheers and applause which certainly brought smiles to their faces and warmed their hearts.”
Those who died had been “extremely passionate Grannies” and were “the glue (that) held us together”, the post said.
Mr Hospel often helped the group, ferrying dancers to various performance venues and making sure everyone had what they needed.
And Ms Kulich was remembered in an online fundraising page as a “loving, beautiful, and charismatic mother, grandmother and friend to so many”.
A vigil was held on Monday night, as nine victims remain in hospital. Pic: AP
A vigil was held on Monday night, as a further nine victims – most of them children – remained in hospital, two of them in critical condition and seven listed as serious.
They were among almost 50 people injured in the incident.
Hundreds of people gathered at a park, holding candles, as volunteers handed out food and hot chocolate.
Amanda Medina Roddy, representing the Waukesha school district, said: “We are parents. We are neighbours. We are hurting. We are angry. We are sad. We are confused. We are thankful. We are all in this together. We are Waukesha strong.”
Darrell Brooks is likely to face five charges of intentional homicide. Pic: AP
Meanwhile, police revealed that Brooks, 39, had left the scene of a domestic disturbance before he allegedly drove into the parade.
Police had not been chasing him at the time, police chief Dan Thompson said, adding that the Milwaukee resident is likely to face five charges of intentional homicide.
Brooks remains in police custody.
Donald Trump has waded into the debate surrounding Sydney Sweeney’s jeans ad.
The American Eagle ad, which features the 27-year-old actress, who starred in the HBO series Euphoria and White Lotus, has the tagline “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans”.
It has sparked a debate in the US over race and Western beauty standards.
One of the Sydney Sweeney jeans ads. Pic: AP
In a Truth Social post, the US president described it as the “hottest ad out there”.
Hailing Sweeney as a “registered Republican”, he said the jeans are “flying off the shelves”, adding: “Go get ’em Sydney!”
Most of the criticism of the ad has centred on videos using the word “genes” instead of “jeans”, with one in which Sweeney says: “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality and even eye colour. My jeans are blue.”
Critics argued the play on words potentially promotes eugenics, a discredited theory that believed humanity could be improved through the selective breeding of certain traits.
But others have defended the ad, saying the critics are reading too much into its message.
The video appeared on American Eagle’s Facebook page and other social media channels, but is not part of the ad campaign.
In a statement on Instagram on Friday, American Eagle Outfitters said the campaign “is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.”
Stocks in American Eagle Outfitters jumped by 23.3% after Mr Trump’s intervention.
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In his Truth Social post, which he reposted three times to fix various typos, Mr Trump compared the ad with “woke” ones “on the other side of the ledger” – as he criticised other companies, as well as hitting out at Taylor Swift.
“The tide has seriously turned – Being WOKE is for losers, being Republican is what you want to be,” he wrote.
Sky News has contacted Sweeney’s agent for comment.
Police in Tennessee have discovered 14 improvised explosive devices in a man’s home as they were arresting him, the local sheriff’s office said.
Officers were executing a warrant in the home of Kevin Wade O’Neal in Old Fort, about 45 miles (70km) east of Chattanooga, after he had threatened to kill public officials and law enforcement personnel in Polk County.
After arresting the 54-year-old, officers noticed “something smouldering” in the bedroom where he was found.
Kevin Wade O’Neal. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
On closer inspection, they discovered an improvised explosive device and evacuated the house until bomb squad officers arrived at the scene.
Fourteen devices were found inside the property – none of which detonated.
Improvised explosive devices were found in Kevin Wade O’Neal’s home. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
Kevin Wade O’Neal’s home in Old Fort, Tennessee. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
O’Neal was charged with 11 counts of attempted first-degree murder, corresponding to nine officers and two other people inside the property when the suspect tried to detonate the devices.
He also faces 14 counts of prohibited weapons and one count of possession of explosive components.
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O’Neal is being held at the Polk County jail and his bond is yet to be determined.
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