Latest news with #Derrick
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Juror in Derrick Thompson trial: ‘You're deciding another man's life'
The Brief Juror Lucas Sundelius spoke with reporters Friday after Derrick Thompson was found guilty on all 15 counts in the 2023 crash in Minneapolis that killed five women. Sundelius said the jury was hung up on whether Derrick Thompson's brother was in the car at the time of the crash. They also had lengthy discussions about his actions being an indifference to life. Thompson will be sentenced July 24. MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Derrick Thompson was found guilty in Hennepin County Court on Friday of 15 counts, including third-degree murder, in a 2023 crash in Minneapolis that killed five women. What happened A jury found Thompson guilty on the 15 counts against him, including third-degree murder and criminal vehicular homicide, for the crash that claimed the lives of Salma Mohamed Abdikadir, Sahra Liban Gesaade, Sagal Burhaan Hersi, Siham Adan Odhowa, and Sabiriin Mohamoud Ali. What they're saying As members of the jury left the Hennepin County Courthouse on Friday, juror No. 9, Lucas Sundelius, spoke to reporters about being a part of the trial. Deliberations in the case took a little more than a day. "It became more important to me how detailed you have to be, because you're deciding another man's life," Sundelius said. "It was rigorous, kind of chaotic at times, we were not agreeing on things, the majority of the first day we were pretty divided." Why you should care According to Sundelius, the jury's longest conversation was about whether Damarco Thompson, Derrick's brother, was in the car and driving at the time of the crash. Damarco Thompson testified in court that Derrick was the driver. During his testimony, Damarco said after they left the airport rental facility, Derrick Thompson was the one driving the Escalade, and he drove the challenger to Woodbury. Some of Damarco's belongings were in the Escalade, but the jury determined Derrick was the driver through evidence presented in the trial. Mainly, Derrick is 6-5, Damarco is shorter and the driver's seat was significantly back, as if a taller person were driving. Derrick's entire defense was to cast doubt that he was driving. They also found him guilty of murder for driving around 90 miles per hour at the time of the crash on a city street. "I think the part that hung us up was the indifference to life aspect of it. We had a very long conversation. Obviously it wasn't intentional, but that doesn't mean he's not indifferent to it," Sundelius said. "We determined through his actions he was indifferent to the loss of life." What they're saying Sundelius said being on the jury was a bit chaotic, but in the end, they feel they made the right decision. Thompson is set to be sentenced on July 24. "Since I got on this journey, I've been thinking about those families every day. I can't even imagine how they feel, no parent should ever have to bury their child," Sundelius said. "The fact it happened to five families, it was weighing on me."
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Derrick Thompson trial: More evidence he was driving speeding SUV
The Brief Derrick Thompson is charged with 15 counts of criminal Vehicular homicide and third-degree murder. Five young women died when a Cadillac Escalade rented by Thompson slammed into their car at an estimated 80 miles an hour, after reaching speeds near 100. Thompson's defense strategy is to cast doubt that prosecutors can prove he was the one driving. MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - A Minneapolis Police investigator spent hours on the stand Tuesday, presenting various videos to prove Derrick Thompson was the one driving the Cadillac Escalade that slammed into a Honda Accord and killed all five women inside. Sgt. David Ligneel showed videos from the rental car ramp at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, showing Thompson and his brother arriving in a car and both walking inside. When they leave, cameras show Derrick driving the Escalade, no one in the passenger seat, then his brother exiting right behind him driving the car. Another video, zooming in on the aftermath of the crash scene, shows no one exiting the passenger side of the Escalade. An eyewitness testified she saw Derrick emerge from the driver's door. A nurse who treated Thompson for a broken pelvis in the days after the crash testified that Derrick never mentioned anything about being a passenger in the SUV or that anyone else was even in the vehicle. Her impression from things he said is that he was driving. What we know Thompson is charged with 15 counts, three each for the five young women who died when Thompson's rented SUV slammed into them at a Lake Street intersection. The Escalade had just exited the freeway, where it was clocked at 95 miles an hour, and blew threw the red light at Lake Street. Siblings of two of the women testified on Tuesday, adding emotion to what is otherwise a very clinical, video and science heavy trial. "She brought a light to every room she walked in, she was always happy, always kind to everyone around her," said Sundus Odhowa, sister of Siham Odhowa. "And she was taken away from us way too soon." The other side A BCA forensic scientist testified about DNA evidence from the Escalade. On the driver's door was a blood sample that heavily matched Derrick, but it also came back with a slight match to Thompson's brother. This is key for the defense, who raise the possibility that Thompson's brother may have been the actual driver. But the scientist testified that the likelihood ratio of a match to Derrick was in the billions. The likelihood of a match to his brother was in the thousands. But, she conceded, his brother could not be excluded as a possible contributor to that DNA mixture. What's next The trial is expected to last a few more days, but wrap up yet this week. The prosecution has a handful of witnesses on their list they've not called yet. The defense declined to say how many witnesses they plan to call.
USA Today
21-05-2025
- General
- USA Today
Being a dad changed my life. What does being a father mean to you? Tell us.
Being a dad changed my life. What does being a father mean to you? Tell us. | Opinion What would you like to tell your dad or a father figure in your life this Father's Day? Share it below. Show Caption Hide Caption Watch dad break down when Airman daughter returns home after 3 years Derrick was overcome with emotion when his Airman daughter, Bree, surprised him on his birthday in Oakland, Mississippi, after three years apart. I'll be happy if my two sons become successful and independent people. But that might also break my heart. Because it will mean they need me less. Sure, I'm glad to be past the dirty diaper phase. And I don't want to do their laundry my whole life. Or pick up the cans, plates and socks that they tuck into the strangest corners. Believe me, there are things I won't miss. Or maybe, kind of, I will. I guess my best hope is that they'll keep feeling I'm a good person to talk to. And that they'll keep coming back. Those are some of the feelings that bubble up as I think about Father's Day. But they're far from universal. Fatherhood has changed radically over the last century, and life circumstances mean we have very different experiences with the men who make up half of our DNA. Some have never known their biological fathers. For others, fathers have left or died, often creating great gaps in their lives. Some have found true fathers in men who are not related to them by blood. Your Turn: 'I love you' was the last thing I said to her. Mom, I hope I made you proud. | Opinion Forum We would love to hear about your experiences with your father – or as a father – or both. We're inviting you to write us and share those experiences. We'll select some to publish in our Forum feature on Father's Day. What's your take on Father's Day? To submit your take on Father's Day, you can fill out the form below or send us an email to forum@ with the subject line 'Forum Father's Day.' Here are some questions you could answer to get you started: What would you like to tell your dad or a father figure in your life this Father's Day? What do you wish your dad knew about you or his impact on your life? Do you think Father's Day is treated differently than Mother's Day? What is your favorite Father's Day memory or tradition? Joel Burgess is a Voices editor for the USA TODAY Network. He lives in Asheville, North Carolina, where he worked as a reporter for more than two decades.
CBS News
05-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Missing birth certificate, South Florida woman says she's trapped without ID due to Real ID rules
As Real ID enforcement takes effect, another South Florida woman said she is stuck in bureaucratic limbo, unable to obtain a valid state identification card because she was never issued a birth certificate. Born at home, but not on paper Jessie Lovette of Miami Gardens has been trying for years to renew her Florida state ID, but without a birth certificate, she can't meet the stricter documentation requirements imposed by the Real ID Act. Lovette was born in Marion County, Georgia in the late 1940s, during segregation and Jim Crow. She said her mother gave birth at home with the help of a midwife, but no official birth certificate was ever filed. Lovette said the lack of documentation has haunted her throughout her life. "It's like I'm nobody. That's how I feel. I was embarrassed to tell my children." She added, "The midwives couldn't read or write, but they know how to deliver the babies," explaining why she believes the paperwork was never submitted. Despite the missing certificate, Lovette was previously able to get Florida state IDs without issue. "I used to go over there by the stadium. They didn't ask for no birth certificate or nothing. You just tell them your age and where you was born at and they give you an ID." A family's fight for identity Lovette's state ID expired in July 2020 and since then she's been trying to get a Real ID-compliant replacement. Her son Derrick has been working with a Georgia attorney to obtain a delayed birth certificate, but they've been denied repeatedly. "It's been 5 years, in July it would be 5 years. It's been hard for my mom because I'd do anything for her," Derrick said. The family has collected multiple documents proving her U.S. birth, including a marriage license that lists Georgia as her birthplace. Lovette also has a Social Security number and receives Medicaid and other public assistance. Still, the lack of valid ID has impacted her ability to get medical care. "Sometimes I go to doctors and I be turned down," Lovette said. Her daughter, Pamala Lloyd, is often with her when that happens. "Lately she's been experiencing a whole lot of 'we can't see you because your ID is not valid,' and we've got turned around with so many doctors. When she goes to a primary doctor and complains about X, Y and Z, she's sent to a specialist. Once they run that ID, it's like, 'Sorry Ms. Lovett, we can't see you based on the expiration.'" Pamala also worries about what could happen during a routine traffic stop. "My older brother told me you have to be careful taking mommy on these little joy rides because you never know if you're gonna get pulled over and it's gonna be a situation with her not having her ID." The family recently attempted to obtain a handicap sticker for Lovette but were again turned away because her ID had expired. Looking for answers and hoping for change Just this weekend, the family was informed they have another hearing scheduled in June and are feeling hopeful. In the meantime, CBS News Miami has reached out to state and federal lawmakers in both Florida and Georgia and officials say they are reviewing the case. Last month, CBS News Miami reported on Janette Gantt Palmer, another South Florida woman unable to get her license due to a missing birth certificate. She's working to request documents from Aiken County, South Carolina, where she was born. State and federal officials are also trying to assist her.
CBS News
02-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Nonprofit AT LAST! expands Oak Cliff "boarding experience" for more students
AT LAST! may have been a long time coming, but the Oak Cliff-based nonprofit is going places. The nation's first "boarding experience" for under-resourced students is expanding. They've announced plans to build a second house to accommodate more scholars. "I am tremendously excited about that," said Randy Bowman, AT LAST! founder and CEO. "When you innovate, you always have a higher risk of something not working. So when it does work, it is tremendously gratifying." CBS News Texas Before turning his time and talents toward philanthropy, Bowman built a successful career as an attorney and businessman. He's also a product of a "resource-challenged" childhood in Pleasant Grove. "I've never been one of those persons who say 'oh, my God! I didn't even know I was poor.' I was well aware," he said with a laugh. But poverty, Bowman knows, is serious business. "My mother loved us as much as anyone could humanly love anything... so hers was not a love deficit. It was not a care deficit. It was a resource deficit." Bowman tapped those "under-resourced" roots to plant AT LAST! The premise and the promise of AT LAST! is that students will perform better in school by leveling the playing field during the hours they aren't. "And for the 17 hours between the moment that they get out of school, until the next morning when they go back to school, we give them what well-resourced families give their kids," said Bowman. "They get coaching on how to learn. We reinforce the curriculum that's being taught to them at the school they attend. We don't have a curriculum. We're not a school." That's why it's called a "boarding experience." Students—called "Scholars in Residence"—attend the schools their parents choose and live on the AT LAST! campus during the week. While there, they get structure: good meals, academic support, exposure to extracurricular interests, and routine bedtimes—resources considered normal for America's middle class. "It's only normal," cautioned Bowman, "if you have it." CBS News Texas has followed the AT LAST! story from vision to groundbreaking, to seeing the doors open. And so has Sheniqua Hicks. "I came here, and it wasn't even here yet!" said the mother of three boys. "But Mr. Bowman told me about the vision that he had." That three-hour conversation convinced Hicks that AT LAST! would be life-changing for her son, Derrick. And although he said he initially had to be bribed with a new video game console... "It was an amazing decision," said the now 12-year-old. "I used to struggle in school, but now, ever since I was in AT LAST! I just grew." Until the second residence is built, AT LAST! is open for scholars in third to fifth grades, at no cost to the families. The plan is to eventually expand from first to sixth grades. So, although Derrick has graduated from the program, he's held on to the memories and so much more. "He was kind of in a little shell, but now he's friendly, he opens up, he talks," shared his mother. "His grades are tremendous! The things they taught him here, doing the tutoring, even though he's not here now, he's still utilizing those things in the seventh grade now." Bowman declined our request to visit with the current cohort of scholars. He's adamant about not disrupting their evening routines for photo ops. And that's fair. Because the real question is whether it's working. "Yes. God, yes," said Bowman. "In fact, we opened in March of 2021. So, we're now sitting in April of 2025. We have eight semesters of seeing that. And remember, we're not a school. We don't give the children their grades. Their teachers do. That's a third party. We are seeing and have seen since we opened our doors an improvement in the grades the kids receive in their core classes. Some of that improvement has been remarkable. All of it has been good." According to information provided on the AT LAST! website, the average improvement in core subject matter grades has been 21%. There is so much excitement surrounding the success of AT LAST! that the Communities Foundation of Texas recently awarded them a $1.5 million grant to help build the second residence and expand services to more students. "Now, this second house that we're building will accommodate 82 more scholars in residence," explained Bowman. "We need 9% of them to be bound for the middle class, in order to pay for the 82 going through that experience. That's a little over seven kids out of 82. Seven. The success of seven would pay for the fullness of the 82. I can assure you that the success rates that we get around here are better than 9%." The cost of not providing students with a pathway out of poverty, argued Bowman, is huge. He references university researchers who have calculated the impact. "It means that the American economy gains a little over $1 million for every child that we can put on a pathway to a middle-class life, rather than on a pathway to a life that would be categorized by some researchers as a 'lost opportunity youth': $1 million per child over the course of their child's lifetime." After all, Bowman is a businessman. He knows that the numbers matter, especially when they add up to making a difference. "If you want your son or daughter to blossom, I say, this is a good place to get them those baby steps," explained Derrick, "especially if they're in third grade or fourth grade. That's the best time to come, because they'll make you a superstar." With hard work, of course, on both sides of the equation. "This is hard work," said Bowman. "But this is our work." And then after a thoughtful pause: "It's ridiculous. It's irrational to think that the pathways that will lead us out of this deficit will somehow be easier and shorter than the pathways that lead us into it. This is our work. I'm okay with that. In fact, I wouldn't have it any other way."
