Son of Former State Representative Accused in Fatal Crash That Killed Five Women

(KNSI) — Minneapolis police have identified the driver arrested in connection to a crash Friday that killed five young women.

Twenty-seven-year-old Derrick John Thompson, son of former state Representative John Thompson, is in custody on five counts of probable cause murder. The Minnesota State Patrol says a trooper spotted a speeding driver on I-35W south of Minneapolis at about 10:00 p.m. Before a traffic stop could be initiated, Thompson allegedly exited the freeway at Lake Street, ran a red light and t-boned a car, killing the five people inside.

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner identified the five victims as 20-year-old Salma Mohamed Abdikadir, 17-year-old Sabiriin Mohamoud Ali, 20-year-old Sahra Liban Gesaade, 19-year-old Sagal Burhaan Hersi, and 19-year-old Siham Adan Odhowa.

They had reportedly just left the Karmel Mall, where they had henna applied in preparation for a friend’s wedding, which was set for Saturday. A funeral for the women was held Monday in Burnsville.

Thompson allegedly fled the scene after the crash but was arrested a short time later and taken to Hennepin County Medical Center to be tested for drug or alcohol impairment.

Thomspon has a prior felony conviction from a 2018 hit-and-run while fleeing police in California. The victim in that case was left in a coma for several months and suffered a traumatic brain injury. Thompson also allegedly fled the scene of that crash. Police say they found 17 pounds of marijuana and $20,000 cash in the trunk of the car. Thompson was tracked down in St. Paul and taken into custody. He pled guilty in Santa Barbara County court and was sentenced to eight years in prison in 2020 but was released early.

We have contacted the Minnesota Department of Public Safety for information regarding how Thompson got a Minnesota driver’s license or if he even had one. Our calls and emails have yet to be returned.

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