‘Hurt and offended’: Father of girl killed in Raleigh parade calls out mayor, city.

The father of the 11-year-old girl killed in last year’s Raleigh Christmas Parade told city leaders Tuesday night they could honor his daughter by enacting “common-sense safety measures.”

Trey Brooks, addressing the Raleigh City Council, said his family was “hurt and offended” by the city’s referencing them in its initial decision to cancel the parade.

“We were hurt and offended when you, Mayor (Mary-Ann) Baldwin pointed to our family as a cause for the parade being canceled,” he said. “The city’s official statement as well as your statement made the claim the parade was being canceled to honor Hailey out of respect for the family. However, neither you nor anyone from the city has ever bothered to contact us following the tragic death of our daughter.”

The best way to honor Hailey, he said, would have been to conduct a “thorough and transparent investigation” into what went wrong and to enact “common-sense protections.”

“Please don’t blame our family,” he said.

The city had 11 months to figure out safety measures to keep the parade going, he added.

A small group of people wearing “Shine Like Hailey” T-shirts and sweaters sat near the front of the council chambers. When one speaker brought up the parade, a woman wiped away tears and put her arms on the shoulders of April Brooks.

Hailey died after 20-year-old Landen Glass lost control of a vehicle pulling a float. Glass was originally charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle, among other offenses before his charges were elevated to felony involuntary manslaughter.

The city of Raleigh initially denied The Greater Raleigh Merchants Association’s parade permit “out of an abundance of caution for parade participants and spectators, as well as respect for Hailey Brooks’ family and friends,” it said in announcing the decision.

Family wanted parade made safer

But Hailey’s family released its own statement through their attorney in which they said the city hadn’t reached out to them about the parade.

“If consulted, the Brooks family would have urged the city to proceed with the parade after implementing basic, common-sense safety protocols that should have been in place in 2022, such as those proposed in the Shine Like Hailey Parade Safety Act,” according to the statement.

“It has been 10 months since Hailey Brooks was killed, and it is time for the city to honor her by enacting protections for the safety of this community — not by canceling the parade,” it continued.

Some of those safety measures include ensuring that drivers of floats are at least 25 years old, that vehicles and floats have appropriate brakes with fail safes and that floats and vehicles pass safety inspections, Brooks said.

“Don’t make excuses,” he said. “Don’t blame the potential for state legislation. Don’t do the minimum. Aim higher. Do better. This is the capital city. And please don’t blame our family for canceling the Christmas parade. You had 11 months to ensure this wonderful Raleigh tradition can go on with basic safety measures in place. You have done nothing so far. But it’s not too late, particularly when our children’s well being is at stake.”

‘I have no words,’ mayor tells father

After Trey Brooks spoke, Baldwin left her seat and spoke to the family. After the meeting, she said she told him how sorry she was for what his family has experienced.

“I said ‘I have no words, but I appreciate your courage for coming up here tonight and talking to us,’” she said in an interview with The News & Observer. “

The parade was rescheduled without motorized vehicles for Nov. 18. As of Tuesday, a parade permit has not been issued by the city.

“That is typically the last step after all permitting requirements are complete by the event organizer,” said Whitney Schoenfeld, interim director of the office of social events. “It could be a couple weeks prior to the event before the permit is issued.”

Brooks declined to elaborate on his comments after the meeting Tuesday.

This story was originally published October 10, 2023 at 8:38 PM.

Anna Roman

The News & Observer

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Anna Roman is a service journalism reporter for the News & Observer. She has previously covered city government, crime and business for newspapers across North Carolina and received many North Carolina Press Association awards, including first place for investigative reporting.