Latest news with #SalmaAbdikadir
Associated Press
5 days ago
- Associated Press
Jurors have convicted a Minnesota man of killing 5 young woman in a 2023 vehicle crash
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A state court jury convicted a Minneapolis-area man Friday of third-degree murder and vehicular homicide in the deaths of five young women in a crash that authorities said was caused by him speeding, running a red light and slamming into their car. Jurors in Hennepin County District Court deliberated two days before reaching their verdict in the case of Derrick John Thompson, 29, of Brooklyn Park, The Minnesota Star Tribune reported. In November, a federal court jury convicted Thompson on drug and firearms charges because investigators found a handgun, ammunition and illegal drugs in his vehicle after the June 2023 crash, and he is awaiting sentencing in that case. He was convicted Friday of 15 charges and his sentencing is set for July 24. Third-degree murder is unintentionally causing a death through 'eminently dangerous' actions and with 'a depraved mind, without regard for human life.' 'His choices that day scarred many lives and affected an entire community,' Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty told reporters following the verdict, according to KARE-TV. The Minneapolis crash victims — Salma Abdikadir, Siham Adam, Sabiriin Ali, Sahra Gesaade and Sagal Hersi — were between 17 and 20 years old, on their way home from preparations for a friend's wedding. Their deaths sparked sorrow and outage among Minnesota's sizeable Somali American population. Prosecutors have said Thompson was driving a black Cadillac Escalade on a Minnesota freeway at 95 mph (153 kph) in a 55 mph- (89 kph-) speed zone and abruptly cut across four lanes of traffic to exit the freeway, flying by a state highway patrol trooper. Thompson's defense attorney, Tyler Bliss, raised questions about whether Thompson's brother might have played a role in the crash that authorities did not investigate. The brother was not charged and testified that he didn't drive the SUV the night of the crash and Thompson was the last person he saw behind the wheel. Bliss called that testimony 'self-serving.' Thompson previously served part of an eight-year prison sentence in California in connection with a 2018 hit-and-run accident that severely injured a woman in the Santa Barbara area. He was released from prison there months before the crash in Minneapolis. Court records show that Thompson is the son of a former Democratic state representative from St. Paul who was sharply critical of police during his one term in office.
CBS News
7 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Closing arguments in Derrick Thompson trial expected Thursday
Derrick Thompson trial nears end after days of emotional testimony, and more headlines Derrick Thompson trial nears end after days of emotional testimony, and more headlines Derrick Thompson trial nears end after days of emotional testimony, and more headlines Closing arguments are expected Thursday in the trial of a man accused of killing five young women in a crash in south Minneapolis. The prosecution and defense rested their cases in Derrick Thompson's trial on Wednesday. He is charged with five counts of third-degree murder and 10 counts of criminal vehicular homicide. Derrick Thompson's defense alleged he was not the driver in the June 16, 2023, crash, instead pinning the blame on his brother, Damarco Thompson. The brother took the stand Wednesday after being subpoenaed, saying he was not even in the car during the crash, let alone driving it. During the trial, jurors also heard from a state trooper who alleged Derrick Thompson was speeding before the crash, a Minneapolis police officer whose body camera captured the aftermath of the crash, family members of the victims and others. Salma Abdikadir, 20; Sabiriin Ali, 17; Sahra Gesaade, 20; Sagal Hersi, 19; and Siham Odhowa, 19 were killed in the crash, which happened on East Lake Street just off Interstate 35W. Prosecutors allege Thompson drew the attention of a state trooper on Interstate 35W by driving erratically at more than 100 mph. Before the trooper turned his emergency lights on, Thompson allegedly cut across several lanes of traffic and exited onto East Lake Street, still speeding. Surveillance cameras captured the crash itself. Derrick Thompson was convicted last fall of several federal drug-related charges in connection to the crash and received an eight-year sentence. He rejected a proposed plea deal from the Hennepin County Attorney's Office for the state charges last summer. Derrick Thompson is the son of former DFL state Rep. John Thompson.
CBS News
29-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Derrick Thompson's trial expected to begin with opening statements Thursday
Derrick Thompson's defense to claim someone else was driving during fatal crash Derrick Thompson's defense to claim someone else was driving during fatal crash Derrick Thompson's defense to claim someone else was driving during fatal crash Opening statements are expected to begin Thursday in the trial of Derrick Thompson, who is accused of killing five young women in a 2023 Minneapolis crash. Thompson, the son of a former Minnesota lawmaker, is charged with five counts of third-degree murder and 10 counts of criminal vehicular homicide. Jury selection started Tuesday, and was complete by Thursday morning. The June 16, 2023 crash killed five friends: Salma Abdikadir, 20 Sabiriin Ali, 17 Sahra Gesaade, 20 Sagal Hersi, 19 Siham Odhowa, 19 Prosecutors allege Thompson drew the attention of a state trooper on Interstate 35W by driving erratically at more than 100 mph. Before the trooper turned their emergency lights on, Thompson allegedly cut across several lanes of traffic and exited onto East Lake Street, still speeding. Surveillance cameras captured his vehicle blowing a red light and slamming into a Honda Civic with five young women inside. Charges said Thompson then ran from the scene and was found nearby, covered in sweat and blood. In a motion on Wednesday, Thompson informed the court he would claim an "alternative perpetrator" in his defense. WCCO confirmed Thompson's brother, who is not charged in the case, is their alleged culprit. Thompson was convicted last fall of several federal drug-related charges in connection to the crash and received an eight-year sentence. He rejected a proposed plea deal from the Hennepin County Attorney's Office for the state charges last summer. Thompson is the son of former Minnesota State Rep. John Thompson. This story will be updated.
CBS News
28-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Derrick Thompson's defense pins blame for fatal Minneapolis crash on another driver in filing
The son of a former lawmaker who is standing trial for the killing of five young women in a 2023 crash in Minneapolis plans to argue that someone else was behind the wheel, according to court documents. Defense attorneys for Derrick Thompson filed a motion Tuesday informing the court of a planned "alternative perpetrator" defense. Thompson is charged with five counts of third-degree murder and 10 counts of criminal vehicular homicide. Jury selection in his trial began Tuesday. The June 16, 2023 crash killed five friends: Salma Abdikadir, 20 Sabiriin Ali, 17 Sahra Gesaade, 20 Sagal Hersi, 19 Siham Odhowa, 19 Prosecutors allege Thompson drew the attention of a state trooper on Interstate 35W by driving erratically at more than 100 mph. Before the trooper turned their emergency lights on, Thompson allegedly cut across several lanes of traffic and exited onto East Lake Street, still speeding. Surveillance cameras captured his vehicle blowing a red light and slamming into a Honda Civic carrying the five young women. Charges said Thompson then ran from the scene and was found nearby, covered in sweat and blood. Thompson was convicted last fall of several federal drug-related charges in connection to the crash, earning an eight-year sentence. He rejected a proposed plea deal from the Hennepin County Attorney's Office for the state charges last summer. Another pre-trial filing from Thompson's defense seeks to disallow the testimony of a chaplain, citing state law preventing clergy from revealing information gleaned from a confession. Thompson is the son of former Minnesota State Rep. John Thompson, a close friend of Philando Castile who served one scandal-laden term representing St. Paul's District 67A before losing reelection in a landslide.
CBS News
27-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Jury selection underway in trial of man charged with killing 5 friends in Minneapolis crash
Jury selection is underway on Monday in the trial of the son of a former Minnesota lawmaker who's accused of killing five young women in a 2023 crash in Minneapolis. Derrick Thompson, 29, is charged in Hennepin County with 15 felonies in connection to the deadly crash on the night of June 16, 2023, including multiple counts of third-degree murder and criminal vehicular homicide. The crash killed five friends: Salma Abdikadir, 20 Sabiriin Ali, 17 Sahra Gesaade, 20 Sagal Hersi, 19 Siham Odhowa, 19 WCCO According to the criminal complaint, a state trooper spotted Thompson on Interstate 35W driving erratically and at speeds approaching 100 mph. The trooper, who said they didn't have their emergency lights activated, said Thompson then cut over several lanes of traffic and exited at high speed onto East Lake Street. Surveillance cameras captured the SUV speeding through a red light and crashing into a Honda Civic that was carrying the friends. Thompson then fled the SUV on foot and into an alley, the criminal complaint states. Police officers soon found him, drenched in sweat and blood, sitting on a curb outside a fast food restaurant. Court of Appeals rules against use of 2018 crash evidence The trial kicks off just days after the Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled that prosecutors can't admit evidence related to Thompson's conviction in a separate crash case in California in 2018. In that case, Thompson struck a pedestrian while fleeing Ventura police at high speeds. He then fled on foot, with officers later finding 17 pounds of marijuana and $20,000 in cash inside his vehicle. The victim in that crash spent 20 days in a coma after suffering life-altering injuries. Thompson was sentenced to eight years in a prison but was released early after training and working as a firefighter in California's Conservation Camps program. His driver's license was reinstated about three months before the deadly Minneapolis crash. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty released a statement following the Court of Appeals' decision, saying she's "confident the admissible evidence will prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Thompson is guilty." Derrick Thompson HCSO Thompson convicted of federal drug, gun crimes Thompson was convicted in federal court in October 2024 of several drug-related crimes in connection to the crash, including possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute, being a felon in illegal possession of a firearm and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. Court documents in that case showed Thompson had rented the SUV at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport less than an hour before the crash. Inside the vehicle, police found a loaded handgun with an extended magazine; more than 2,000 fentanyl pills; cocaine; MDMA and other paraphernalia. Thompson was sentenced to eight years in this case. Thompson rejected plea deal before murder charges added In August 2024, Thompson rejected a proposed plea deal from the Hennepin County Attorney's Office and insisted on a criminal trial. Weeks later, the office added several third-degree murder charges to his case due to his "lengthy record of dangerous driving, the trail of devastation he's left in his wake, and his conduct in this case." Thompson is the son of former Minnesota State Rep. John Thompson, a close friend of Philando Castile who served one scandal-laden term representing St. Paul's District 67A before losing reelection in a landslide. NOTE: The original airdate of the video attached to this article is May 20, 2025.
