Man found guilty of 15-murder counts for crash that killed five women

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – In a courtroom charged with anticipation, the jury delivered a series of verdicts that sealed the fate of Derek Thompson, a defendant on trial for a string of tragic vehicular crimes. The courtroom was hushed as the jury foreperson read the verdicts, one after another, each finding Thompson guilty on all 15 counts, ranging from murder to criminal vehicular homicide.

Thompson faced charges linked to a catastrophic incident that claimed the lives of five individuals, including Sarah Gasade, Siame Odawa, Salma Abdi Khadir, Sagal Hersy, and Sabrine Ali. The charges included murder while perpetrating an eminently dangerous act, showing indifference to human life, and criminal vehicular homicide due to gross negligence, causing a collision, and abandoning the scene.

The gravity of the situation was underscored by the nature of the questions the jury was tasked with answering. Among them was whether Thompson had a prior felony conviction involving injury to a victim, his failure to render aid or notify medical personnel, and his reckless driving behavior, which included weaving through traffic and exceeding speed limits.

Prosecutors presented evidence of Thompson’s previous criminal record, which included a 2018 conviction in California for evading law enforcement and causing severe injury. During that incident, Thompson’s reckless actions left a pedestrian with permanent brain damage. This prior conviction played a pivotal role in the jury’s decision-making process.

In the courtroom, the prosecution laid out a narrative of reckless endangerment, highlighting Thompson’s high-speed evasion of law enforcement and his ultimate crash at an intersection bustling with pedestrians and vehicles. The evidence presented painted a stark picture of a man who, while fleeing, left a trail of devastation.

The defense, however, attempted to differentiate between leaving and fleeing the scene, arguing that Thompson’s actions did not constitute a deliberate escape. Despite this, the jury was unmoved, finding the evidence of Thompson’s guilt overwhelming.

As the verdicts were read, the courtroom remained silent, with reactions held in check until the proceedings were concluded. The jury’s unanimous findings reflected the severity of Thompson’s actions and their tragic consequences.

With the verdicts rendered, the next phase involves the jury deliberating additional questions related to the circumstances of the crimes. These include whether Thompson’s driving exceeded specific speed limits and if he was evading a state trooper at the time of the incident.

The deliberations are set to continue, with the jury given until the end of the day to reach a decision. If needed, they will reconvene on Monday to finalize their findings. The court awaits their answers, which will further illuminate the extent of Thompson’s culpability.