Waukesha Police Chief: ‘There Was No Police Pursuit That Led Up To This Incident’

On Monday, Waukesha police chief Daniel Thompson, responding to rumors that police were pursuing the suspect in the horrific incident on Sunday in Waukesha, Wisconsin, before he plowed into a Christmas parade and killed at least five people and injured more than 40 people others, stated firmly, “I want to dispel some rumors: there was no pursuit that led up to this incident.” He warned, “The Waukesha Police Department website is the only source for information. Do not release information from any other source as it has not been vetted and could lead to false information.”

In the aftermath of the incident, some media outlets focused on reporting that the suspect, who has been charged with five murders, had been “fleeing” another crime scene when he plowed his SUV violently into a Christmas parade where people of all ages, from children to elderly adults were participating.

The Washington Post quoted an unnamed “law enforcement official” saying Brooks’ intent was to “escape the police”:

The law enforcement official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the initial stages of the investigation, told The Washington Post that investigators have not found anything tying the parade incident to terrorism or ideology. It appears that the main intent was to escape the police from the prior incident, the official said.

ABC News reported, “Investigators are looking into whether the SUV driver who plowed through a Christmas parade in suburban Milwaukee, killing at least five people and injuring more than 40, was fleeing a crime, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press.”

On Monday morning, CNN’s S.E. Cupp tweeted, “BREAKING: CNN reports Waukesha driver who plowed into parade was fleeing another crime scene, not an act of terrorism or retaliation.”

BREAKING: CNN reports Waukesha driver who plowed into parade was fleeing another crime scene, not an act of terrorism or retaliation.

— S.E. Cupp (@secupp) November 22, 2021

Eighteen minutes later, the Twitter account of CNN Breaking News tweeted, “There are indications the person held in the deadly Wisconsin parade incident was fleeing another scene, sources say.”

There are indications the person held in the deadly Wisconsin parade incident was fleeing another scene, sources say. Follow live updates: https://t.co/7IhJdlnDii

— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) November 22, 2021

Waukesha Mayor Shawn Riley stated on Monday:

Last night we experienced a senseless tragedy. Many of us were participants in the parade and witnessed these horrific actions; we are all trying to process what we experienced. Our

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