Derrick John Thompson was found guilty by a Hennepin County jury Friday on all 15 felony counts against him, including five counts of third-degree murder.
Thompson was traveling in an Escalade at speeds of nearly 100 mph on June 16, 2023, when he exited I-35W, barreled through a red light at the intersection of East Lake Street and 2nd Avenue in Minneapolis, and struck a Honda Civic carrying five young Somali women. All of them died instantly.
The victims were: Sabiriin Mohamoud Ali, Siham Ada Odhowa, Sahra Liban Gesaade, Sagal Burhaan Hersi, and Salma Mohamed Abdikadir.
Thompson, who is the son of former DFL state Rep. John Thompson, was found guilty by a federal jury in October for illegal possession of a firearm and fentanyl in connection to the crash.
In his state case, 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.
In total, the Hennepin County jury found Thompson guilty of:
- Five counts of third-degree murder
- Five counts of criminal vehicular homicide, operating a motor vehicle in a grossly negligent manner
- Five counts of criminal vehicular homicide, driver who causes collision leaves the scene
His sentencing is scheduled for July 24.
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.
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.
