MINNEAPOLIS — Derrick Thompson is rolling the dice, turning down a plea agreement and instead going to trial on charges of third-degree murder and criminal vehicular homicide for allegedly crashing into a car and killing five friends while fleeing police.
Hennepin County District Court officials confirm that Thompson and his defense team have scuttled the plea deal, opting instead for a trial that is set to begin on Feb. 18, 2025.
In late August, prosecutors told Thompson and his legal team that he would serve between 32 and 38 years in prison in exchange for pleading guilty to five counts of criminal vehicular homicide. The third-degree murder charges and remaining criminal vehicular homicide charges would have been dropped.
Turning down the plea deal is a gamble for Thompson: Prosecutors have filed notice they intend to seek an aggravated sentence if Thompson is convicted at trial, citing he has prior convictions for a similar offense, he failed to render aid to the victims in the June crash and that his offense is more serious than a typical offense.
Because of that, Judge Carolina Lamas will have the discretion to sentence Thompson up to 50 years in prison if found guilty at trial.
Thompson stands charged with five counts of third-degree murder and 10 of criminal vehicular homicide for allegedly causing the deaths of five young women ages 17 to 20: Salma Mohamed Abdikadir, Sahra Liban Gesaade, Sagal Burhaan Hersi, Siham Adan Odhowa, and Sabiriin Mohamoud Ali. Prosecutors say the victims were in a vehicle sitting at a stoplight on Lake St. when Thompson's SUV sped through a red light and struck them. Investigators say he was fleeing after being clocked by a state trooper on I-94 doing 95 mph in a 55 miles-per-hour zone.
The defendant fled on foot following the crash before officers took him into custody. Inside Thompson's rented SUV police found a loaded handgun and significant qualities of drugs, including fentanyl. He would later insist that both the weapon and the drugs belonged to his brother, who Thompson insists was in the vehicle with him at the time of the crash.
When announcing the addition of murder charges in the case Sept. 16, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty indicated her office would seek enhanced sentencing against Thompson.
"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."
Along with the state charges, Thompson was charged at the federal level for being a felon in possession of a handgun and possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute. It took a jury mere hours to convict him on all counts on October 11, 2024.