Derrick Thompson sentenced to 58 years for killing five young women in Minneapolis crash

The son of a former state legislator convicted of killing five young women in a high-speed crash was sentenced Thursday to more than 58 years in prison.

Derrick John Thompson, 29, was found guilty last month on all 15 felony charges related to the deadly June 2023 crash. A Hennepin County judge sentenced Thompson to 704 months.

“Today is a day to center Salma, Sahra, Sagal, Sabiriin, and Siham and their families,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said. “Five women were taken from their loved ones because of Mr. Thompson’s choices that night. He is being held accountable, and the length of this sentence ensures he cannot cause this type of damage to our community again.

“This was as preventable as it was inexcusable. Vehicles can easily become weapons when drivers make poor choices. Anyone who drives on our streets must remember their responsibility for safety in our neighborhoods.”

Deadly crash left no survivors

Thompson was driving a Cadillac Escalade at nearly 100 miles per hour when he exited Interstate 35W, ran a red light at East Lake Street and 2nd Avenue, and slammed into a Honda Civic carrying five young women preparing for a friend’s wedding. The impact killed all five passengers at the scene.

The victims ranged in age from 17 to 20 and were identified as Sabiriin Mahamoud Ali, Siham Ada Odhowa, Sahra Liban Gesaade, Sagal Burhaan Hersi, and Salma Mohamed Abdikadir.

Jury convicts Thompson on 15 felony charges

During the trial, Thompson’s defense “centered on creating doubts as to whether it was Derrick or [his brother] Damarco behind the wheel of the Escalade,” the Center of the American Experiment reported. Damarco testified that he wasn’t behind the wheel on the night of the crash, according to the center’s report.

Jurors ultimately convicted Thompson of five counts each of third-degree murder, criminal vehicular homicide involving gross negligence, and criminal vehicular homicide for fleeing the scene of a crash.

Thompson, the son of former DFL state Rep. John Thompson, was previously convicted of a similar set of offenses in California. In the fall of 2018, Thompson was driving a vehicle when he fled from police and struck a pedestrian, severely injuring her. Thompson then fled on foot, and over 8 kilograms of marijuana were found in the car.

Thompson pleaded guilty in 2020 to evading an officer causing injury; leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in permanent injury; and conspiracy to possess marijuana for sale. He had been released from prison about six months prior to the Minneapolis crash.

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