Most people do not have a clue what happened on November 21, 2021 in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
Waukesha carnage after Darrel Brooks drives his SUV through the crowd.
For those do, and live there, it started out with high expectations and anticipation of a joyous day to celebrate the holidays with a parade.
Those expectations and anticipation were wrecked in about three minutes when a career criminal by the name of Darrel Brooks took his SUV and drove through the crowded parade route and mowed down men, women, and children at a high rate of speed.
Six individuals were killed, including one child, and dozens more were severely injured by the rampaging Brooks.
For the last month I sat, watched, and listened to much of the trial over what Brooks did; at times it was maddening, at others outrageous, and in the end, gut-wrenching.
Never in my life have I ever witnessed such a spectacle, where Brooks constantly and repeated interrupted court proceedings, all in an attempt to garner himself a mistrial.
Darrel Brooks stares down Judge Darow in anger.
If Brooks was not interrupting the judge (Jennifer Dorow), he was insulting her, the witnesses, the prosecution team, and later the survivors of his heinous act, as well as those who viewed the trial over live stream and were not even in the courtroom!
It was an absolute travesty that, in my opinion, is consistent with the day-and-age in which we live, where authoritative figures have become objects of outrageous disrespect and assault, whether it is teachers, police officers, or in this case, a judge.
Today, though, Darrel received his just reward for really what amounts to a lifetime of criminal activity.
His rap sheet assault and battery, sexual molestation of a minor, jumping bail, possession of drugs, more battery, felony possession of a firearm, and lying to law enforcement.
After pontificating about his relationship with God during his final statement in his behalf, and generally wasting two hours of the court’s time, Judge Darow began the sentencing phase, which Brooks revealed just how much of that relationship with God really meant to him, which was nothing.
Darrel Brooks sits in solitude next door due to his outburst during sentencing.
He exploded in a rage, like he had done so many times throughout the trial, and was removed from the courtroom into an adjacent courtroom to watch and listen in silence.
Judge Darow proceeded with her analysis of the case, showing great respect and sympathy to the victims and victim’s survivors, which was something Brooks never did, even when given the opportunity during his final statement before the court.
Then came the sentence. Six, consecutive, life terms: one life sentence for each life he murderously took. Those were counts one through six of 73 overall.
Counts seven through sixty-seven, which accounted for all the individuals he managed not to kill, but seriously injured when he ran them down with his SUV; 1,067 ½ years in prison added to his life sentences.
Then there were the years added for the malicious manner in which he carried out his “attack;” 300 more years, plus 12 years for battery against his former girlfriend, and he also has to pay approximately $200,000 in restitution.
Judge Darow hands down 6 life sentences plus 1,380 years in prison.
All-in-all, Darrel Brooks’ life of crime in the free world came to an end with six life sentences,1380 years in prison, and a $200,000 bill that he will never be able to pay off while sitting in the Grey Hotel for Wayward Murderous Individuals.
But, then I got to thinking about all the “symbolism” (to use Judge Darow’s description) and comparing it to the death sentence many will receive when they stand before the God of Heaven and Earth, and it pales by comparison.
Brooks’ sentence amounts to about 17 lifetimes, but that is nothing compared to eternity, and that spent in hell!
In Brook’s sentence, if it were humanly possibly, he would eventually serve his time and walk out a free man.
For those who enter the “prison” of hell, there will never be a reprieve. It’s absolutely mind-boggling!
And what is even more mind-boggling is that Brooks talked a big, religious game before the court—he even shed a tear or two about his alleged belief in Jesus and his peace with God—but he showed no remorse for his actions, nor refrained from going on another angry tirade directed at the judge.
You will know a false professor by his fruits (Mt 7:16, 20).
As I sat there listening, his behavior reminded me of what Jesus said, and is recorded in Matthew’s gospel.
Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness'” (Mt 7:21-23).
I am not judging Darrel Brooks’ confession, but his actions as a supposed “Christian” were obviously quite contrary to that confession, and it would not surprise me to find out one day that he went from his prison cell upon death straight to his eternal prison in hell.
So, today he received only a partial sentence for the harm, chaos, and death that he caused.
Maybe God will eventually straighten him out, but from I have witnessed during this sordid trial, that was full of heartache, I am not going to hold my breath, sad to say.
May the Lord, though, grant a peace that passes all understanding, along with the healing of the injured in Waukesha, and may the words of the Apostle Paul be especially true for each of them, that, “We know that for those who love God all things work together for the good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28).
In Jesus name. Amen!
