A neighbor of the man suspected of killing five people in a vehicular rampage on Sunday says that the man’s ex-girlfriend fled his home “with no shoes and a black eye” shortly before the tragedy.
A neighbor, only identified as Ebony, spoke to The Sun at her home in Waukesha, Wisconsin, and said that the suspect and his ex-girlfriend had constant fights at his home. Often, the disputes would happen outside of the home and the neighbor would step in to break them up and threaten to call the police.
Ebony added that the suspect always “seemed off” and was “talking to himself.”
Waukesha police said in a press conference on Monday afternoon that the suspect was involved in a “domestic disturbance” prior to allegedly driving his SUV through a Christmas parade.
Police arrested a 39-year-old black male on Monday and charged him with killing five people after he allegedly drove a red Ford Escape through a parade. Dozens more were wounded in the incident, including many children. The Daily Wire has decided not to name the man per its policy against naming the alleged perpetrators of mass casualty incidents.
The suspect had been out of jail for just days after posting a $1,000 in bail. Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm admitted on Monday that the suspect’s bail had been set “inappropriately low” for the charges against him and his past alleged criminal conduct. Chisholm said in a statement:
On November 5, 2021, the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office issued against [the suspect] charges of Second Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety, Felony Bail Jumping, Battery, Obstructing an Officer and Disorderly Conduct … The most recent case against [the suspect] was appropriately charged. The state made a cash bail request in this case of $1,000, which was set by the court. The defendant posted $1,000 cash bail on November 11, resulting in his release from custody.
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 [the suspect]. 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.
The suspect has an extensive criminal history. In 2006, he was convicted of statutory sexual seduction of a minor and listed on Nevada’s sex offender registry. In Wisconsin, the suspect has had multiple run-ins with police. As NPR reported:
[The suspect] has a criminal history in Wisconsin. In 2020, he was charged with recklessly endangering safety and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to documents from the Milwaukee District Attorney’s office provided to NPR.
The documents also show that [the suspect] previously used his vehicle to cause harm. Earlier this month, he confronted a woman outside a motel. He knocked her phone out of her hand and drove off. He then returned, punch her in the face and and ran her over with his vehicle. The report notes that the woman had tire marks on her pants in addition to other injuries from the incident.