Derrick Thompson to spend 37 years in prison for crash that killed 5 young women

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - A Hennepin County judge handed down consecutive sentences for Derrick Thompson in the deadly crash that killed five young women in Minneapolis, adding up to nearly 60 years.

With two-thirds of that sentence being spent in prison, and 767 days of credit for time already served, Thompson will likely spend 37 years behind bars. 

Derrick Thompson sentenced

By the numbers:

In documents filed this week ahead of Thursday's sentence, prosecutors asked a judge to hand down five consecutive sentences for Thompson, totaling 704 months, or nearly 59 years in prison.

The judge agreed, sentencing Thompson to 704 months for the deaths of five women between the ages of 17 and 20 years old. Their names are Sabiriin Mahamoud Ali, Siham Ada Odhowa, Sahra Liban Gesaade, Sagal Burhaan Hersi, and Salma Mohamed Abdikadir. 

Thompson has 767 days of credit for time already served, and Minnesota law allows a third of a sentence to be served on supervised release. 

The defense filed separate arguments, asking for a judge to opt for concurrent sentences – meaning each sentence would be served at the same time. The defense suggested a sentence in the 268 to 335 month range, or between 22 and 27 years. Attorneys said that sentencing length had been discussed prior to federal authorities bringing charges against Thompson.

What they're saying:

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty released this statement following the sentencing: "Today is a day to center Salma, Sahra, Sagal, Sabiriin, and Siham and their families. Five women were taken from their loved ones because of Mr. Thompson’s choices that night. He is being held accountable, and the length of this sentence ensures he cannot cause this type of damage to our community again. This was as preventable as it was inexcusable. Vehicles can easily become weapons when drivers make poor choices. Anyone who drives on our streets must remember their responsibility for safety in our neighborhoods."

A news release from the attorney's office added that "Mr. Thompson’s driving conduct was egregious, particularly in light of the fact that he had previously been convicted of a similar crime in which he almost killed someone."

Dig deeper:

In their arguments, prosecutors point to a previous serious crash involving Thompson in California.

Five months before the Minneapolis crash, Thompson had been granted early release from prison in Santa Barbara after a serious crash that put a woman in a coma back in 2018. Prosecutors say it was a miracle that no one in that case died.

"[Thompson] was better equipped than anyone to understand the danger of his actions, but he didn't care enough about others to make a better choice," prosecutors argue.

Deadly Minneapolis crash

The backstory:

Derrick Thompson was found guilty in June of a deadly crash in Minneapolis in June 2023 that claimed the lives of Salma Mohamed Abdikadir, Sahra Liban Gesaade, Sagal Burhaan Hersi, Siham Adan Odhowa, and Sabiriin Mohamoud Ali. Thompson was convicted of 15 counts at trial, including third-degree murder and criminal vehicular homicide.

Thompson was speeding and driving recklessly behind the wheel of a rented Escalade on Interstate 35W that night. Troopers say they had clocked him going 95 mph in a 55-mph zone. When a trooper pulled out to stop Thompson, they said he rapidly took the exit for Lake Street. Moments later, Thompson's Escalade ran a red light and slammed into a Honda Accord carrying the five young women at the intersection of East Lake Street and 2nd Avenue South.

Surveillance video shown at the trial showed Thompson's Escalade plowing into the Honda at a rapid pace. Troopers estimated that the Escalade was traveling between 77 mph and 84 mph at the time of impact. Moments before, it had been going above 100 miles per hour.

After the crash, prosecutors said Thompson was able to run from the Escalade and was found outside a nearby Taco Bell. Thompson lied and said he hadn't been involved in the crash, despite the fact he had blood on his face. The Escalade had also been rented by Thompson just 30 minutes before the crash.

The other side:

Thompson's defense tried to argue that Thompson's brother had been behind the wheel that night. However, troopers testified that only the Escalade's driver's side door opened after the crash. Thompson's brother also testified against Derrick at trial, saying he had driven Derrick to pick up the rental and then driven back home to Woodbury.

DNA tests on blood found in the Escalade strongly matched Derrick's DNA, by a likelihood ratio of one in a billion. The DNA did come back with a slight match to Thompson's brother, but the likelihood of a match to his brother was in the thousands.

Federal trial

What's next:

Before the state trial, Thompson was also convicted on federal charges for guns and fentanyl found in the Escalade after the crash. 

He is scheduled to be sentenced in that case in late September. However, that sentence will likely run concurrent to his state charges.

MinneapolisCrime and Public Safety