NFL star JJ Watt, a Wisconsin native, says he’ll pick up the costs of funerals for the six victims of Sunday’s tragic Christmas parade attack.
The Arizona Cardinals defensive end, a Waukesha native who graduated from Peewauken High School and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, made the announcement through local media this week, Fox News said.
“JJ Watt is covering the funeral costs for everyone that lost their life in the Waukesha Christmas Parade,” journalist and author Cory Jennerjohn wrote on Twitter.
“That is an amazing gesture,” Jennerjohn wrote. “He has such a huge heart.”
Watt took to Twitter himself just hours after the deadly tragedy on Sunday.
“Just now seeing what happened at the holiday parade back home in Waukesha tonight,” he tweeted. “Horrific images. Truly hoping everyone is going to be ok and those involved are now safe.”
“Thankful to everyone who rushed to action and helped the wounded,” he said.
Darrell Brooks, a 39-year-old career criminal and wannabe rapper, is charged with five counts of first-degree intentional homicide in the case — with a sixth count pending after an 8-year-old boy succumbed to his injuries.
Police said Brooks was fleeing a domestic incident when he barreled onto the route of the annual parade, injuring an additional 62 people, according to a complaint.
He is being held on $5 million bail in the case.
