Derrick Thompson Charged With State and Federal Charges in Fatal Crash

(KNSI) — The Hennepin County Attorney has charged Derrick John Thompson with ten counts of criminal vehicular homicide as well as federal firearms and drug charges stemming from a fatal crash in Minneapolis Friday night.

Prosecutors say five counts against him are for “operating a motor vehicle in a grossly negligent manner,” and five are for leaving the scene of a crash.

According to court records, a Minnesota State Trooper sitting at I-35W and 46th Street saw a Cadillac Escalade driving at a high rate of speed. The radar clocked the SUV at 95 miles an hour. Thompson was traveling in the far left lane and weaving before cutting across all of the lanes of traffic and exiting the freeway abruptly at Lake Street. Thompson ran a red light and slammed into a Honda Civic broadside, instantly killing the five women inside. He ran from the scene but was picked up at a restaurant nearby after bystanders called the police. Thompson was sitting on the curb in the parking lot and had injuries consistent with being in a car accident. He was bleeding from a laceration on his forehead, had blood on his hands and clothing, and was sweating profusely. Investigators asked about how he got hurt, and Thompson initially told officers, “I cut myself. This is old. This is an old cut.” Police pressed him, saying his injuries looked recent. Thompson then told officers that he was injured when he “fell” earlier in the night. He was taken into custody and then to Hennepin County Medical Center for observation and drug and alcohol testing. Results are still pending. Doctors say Thompson suffered a broken hip in the crash.

The trooper said Thompson was driving so fast he didn’t have time to turn on his emergency lights and sirens to initiate a traffic stop.

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.

According to a search warrant, investigators recovered a Glock .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun with an extended magazine from the wreckage of the SUV, along with 2,169 fentanyl pills, a plastic bag containing 14 grams of powder fentanyl, 13 MDMA pills, 35 grams of cocaine and a digital scale, state and federal prosecutors said. As a convicted felon, Thompson is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. He could face life behind bars on the federal charges.

Investigators recovered a Glock .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun with an extended magazine from the wreckage of the SUV, along with 2,169 fentanyl pills, a plastic bag containing 14 grams of powder fentanyl, 13 MDMA pills, 35 grams of cocaine and a digital scale, state and federal prosecutors said. As a convicted felon, Thompson is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

Thomspon has a prior felony conviction from a 2018 hit-and-run while fleeing police in California. In that case, the victim 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 were not returned, but court records say his Minnesota driving privileges were restored in March of 2023, so he did have a valid license.

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