Multiple left-wing organizations have falsely accused the Minnesota State Patrol of pursuing and using stop sticks on Derrick Thompson’s vehicle before he crashed into a car carrying a group of young Somali women, killing all five passengers inside.
Thompson, the son of former DFL state Rep. John Thompson, was observed by a state trooper traveling at speeds of nearly 100 miles per hour on I-35W Friday night before he exited the highway, blew through a red light, and t-boned the victims’ vehicle, according to police.
WARNING: Disturbing video shows moment of impact from reckless driver speeding & running a red light before killing five people and fleeing the scene. Sources have identified the driver as Derrick John Thompson, the son of former DFL state Rep. John Thompson. pic.twitter.com/JVvNDwuaOV
— Liz Collin (@lizcollin) June 18, 2023
In response to this tragedy, three local groups (Families Supporting Families Against Police Violence, Communities United Against Police Brutality, and MN Wrongfully Convicted Judicial Reform) organized and promoted an event called: “Rally for Justice for 5 Women Killed by MN State Patrol Chase.”
“This happened in South Minneapolis on Friday night, when the MN State Patrol engaged in a high-speed chase and used stop sticks on a driver they were pursuing. The driver lost control and hit a vehicle that was moving through the intersection — killing 5 young Somali women. The entire community is mourning the devastating and avoidable loss of life & beloved youth,” an event description for the June 19 rally says.
Far-left groups are using Friday's crash in Minneapolis that killed five young women to attack police. They are blaming the deaths on the State Patrol, which has said they were not pursuing Derrick Thompson's vehicle. pic.twitter.com/5MOJMehG9m
— Alpha News (@AlphaNewsMN) June 20, 2023
According to the Minneapolis Police Department, the lead agency on the investigation, there was no pursuit and no stop sticks were deployed.
“Chief O’Hara personally viewed the State Trooper’s dash camera footage. There was no pursuit. Stop sticks were not deployed,” MPD public information officer Sgt. Garrett Parten told Alpha News.
Toshira Garraway, the founder of Families Supporting Families Against Police Violence, also falsely accused St. Paul police of killing her fiancé, Alpha News previously reported.
Released from prison in California
Thompson was released from prison in January after serving just three years of an eight-year sentence in connection to a California hit-and-run that put a woman in a coma, the state’s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation confirmed.
Reports say Thompson was driving recklessly in Montecito on Sept. 4, 2018 when police attempted to stop his car. Thompson fled, a pursuit ensued, and he eventually hit a woman walking in the street, according to local media. He then ran from the scene of the crash and was arrested weeks later in Minnesota. He was sentenced to eight years in prison in February 2020.
“Derrick John Thompson was received from Santa Barbara County on Feb. 14, 2020. He was sentenced to serve eight years for evading a peace officer, causing serious bodily injury with the enhancement of inflicting great bodily injury on a victim comatose or suffering paralysis; hit and run causing death or permanent serious injury; and possession of marijuana for sale/conspiracy. He received 577 days of pre-sentence credits awarded by the sentencing court for time served while awaiting trial. On Jan. 19, 2023, he was released to parole supervision in Ventura County after serving his full sentence as defined by law,” a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation spokesperson said.
He was then transferred to the supervision of the Minnesota Department of Corrections in March to complete his parole.
Despite this history, Thompson was issued a Minnesota driver’s license just nine days before the fatal Minneapolis crash, KARE 11 reported. He was driving a rental car that he picked up from the airport 20 minutes prior.
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office is expected to file charges Thursday.
Anthony Gockowski
Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News. He previously worked as an editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform, and wrote for the Daily Caller.
