MINNEAPOLIS — Editor's note: The above video originally aired on August 28, 2024.
The Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced Monday that a man charged with killing five women in a 2023 Minneapolis car crash will now face additional charges.
In a news release, Moriarty said Derrick Thompson is now charged with five counts of third-degree murder, on top of the original 10 counts of criminal vehicular homicide.
“In general, when we’re talking about criminal vehicular homicide it’s some type of negligence. When we’re talking about third-degree murder it’s really the highest level of negligence or recklessness we have," Moriarty said.
Prosecutors say Thompson, the son of former Minnesota State Representative John Thompson, rented a Cadillac SUV on June 16, 2023. Shortly afterward, Thompson was clocked by a state trooper driving 95 mph on I-35W — weaving in and out of traffic. He exited on Lake Street, sped through a red light, and struck a black Honda with five people inside.
“Behind every single one of these tragedies there is a story of a person whose life was lost and their loved ones who have to go living without them," Moriarty said.
The crash killed five young women ages 17 to 20: Salma Mohamed Abdikadir, Sahra Liban Gesaade, Sagal Burhaan Hersi, Siham Adan Odhowa, and Sabiriin Mohamoud Ali.
"The senseless deaths of these five young women at the hands of Mr. Thompson has devastated their families and communities," said Moriarty in a news release. "The sad fact is that he has done this before. Just six months before this crash, Mr. Thompson was released from a California prison for fleeing police, speeding off the highway and onto city streets where he struck and severely injured a woman. His lengthy record of dangerous driving, the trail of devastation he's left in his wake, and his conduct in this case make these more serious charges appropriate. We will continue to seek a lengthy period of incarceration to keep the community safe."
Moriarty said her office is seeing more dangerous driving behavior.
“Last year in 2023, our office had 13 criminal vehicular homicides. Those are the cases where somebody is driving and their conduct leads to the death of somebody else. This year we already have 16," she said.
She said since the pandemic they've noticed more distracted and aggressive driving behaviors.
“We have people speeding really fast and just blowing through a stoplight. We’ve had people on Facetime, we have people drinking too much and getting into the car. Sometimes I think if you knew who this person was that you have killed here you never would have gotten yourself into this situation," she said.
However, she isn't sure tougher consequences will deter people from driving recklessly.
“We have talked about that. I am not sure harsher penalties or penalties themselves are a deterrent to this kind of behavior. I tend to think education about it is really important," she said.
Moriarty said there are so many other options than drunk driving. She wants people to have a plan before they leave their homes for a night. If your friend is too drunk to drive, Moriarty wants to encourage their friends to take their keys.
Additionally, Thompson faces federal charges related to the crash. Thompson was allegedly found with fentanyl and a loaded gun inside the Escalade. As a convicted felon, he is not legally allowed to possess a firearm.