A federal jury found Derrick John Thompson guilty of illegal possession of a firearm and fentanyl following a deadly vehicle crash that killed five victims in Minneapolis last year, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger on Friday.
Thompson, 28, was charged in separate cases in both state and federal court last year following the June 16, 2023, crash where five young Somali women were killed on Lake Street after the vehicle Thompson was allegedly driving exited I-35W at a speed of nearly 100 mph.
Thompson, who is the son of former DFL state Rep. John Thompson, was found guilty of one count of possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, one count of possessing a firearm as a felon, and one count of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
Evidence presented at trial showed that on June 16, 2023, a trooper with the Minnesota State Patrol observed a black Cadillac Escalade speeding north on I-35W, traveling at 95 mph in a 55 mph speed zone. The trooper observed the driver, later identified as Thompson, abruptly cut across four lanes of traffic to exit the freeway at the Lake Street exit.
The trooper began following the SUV but did not activate the emergency lights or sirens because the trooper did not want to attempt a traffic stop on city streets given the Escalade’s dangerous driving. At the intersection of 2nd Avenue South and East Lake Street, Thompson sped through a red light at the intersection without stopping or slowing. The SUV struck at full speed the driver’s side of a Honda Civic that was traveling lawfully through the intersection. All five occupants of the Honda Civic, four adult females and one juvenile female, were killed.
When law enforcement responded to the scene of the crash, witnesses told officers where Thompson fled. Officers found Thompson, wearing clothing that matched the description given by witnesses, sitting on the curb outside of a nearby restaurant. Officers detained Thompson, who was later transported to Hennepin County Medical Center for evaluation.
Video obtained by Liz Collin following the incident showed the horrific impact of the crash as the Escalade plowed into the women’s vehicle (graphic).
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
Records found in the vehicle included a Hertz rental record for the Cadillac Escalade indicating that Thompson rented the vehicle from a Hertz located at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport approximately 30 minutes before the crash. After obtaining a warrant to search the vehicle, officers found a black leather bag on the front passenger side floor that contained a loaded Glock pistol with an extended magazine.
Also found in the vehicle were three baggies containing more than 2,000 blue “M-Box 30” fentanyl pills, a baggie containing an additional 14 grams of fentanyl powder, a baggie containing 35 grams of cocaine, and a digital scale. Subsequent testing determined that Thompson’s DNA was present on the firearm, the fentanyl powder, and the cocaine. A search of Thompson’s phone found dozens of texts indicating fentanyl deals.
Because Thompson has multiple prior felony convictions, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
The court record details that Thompson was previously convicted of a remarkably 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.
A sentencing hearing on the federal conviction will be scheduled at a later date.
Thompson still faces a raft of charges in state court including five counts of third-degree murder, which were just added last month, as well as 10 counts of criminal vehicular homicide in the original charging document in the deaths of Sabiriin Ali, 17, Sahra Gesaade, 20, Salma Abdikadir, 20, Sagal Hersi, 19, and Siham Adan, 19.
Thompson’s next court appearance in the state case is scheduled for November 4.
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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
Crime Watch MN
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
