Son Of Former DFL Lawmaker Receives Nearly 60-Year Murder Sentence

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — The son of former St. Paul Democratic-Farmer-Labor Rep. John Thompson was sentenced Thursday to 704 months in prison for causing a high-speed crash in 2023 that killed five young women.

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office secured guilty verdicts on all charges against Derrick John Thompson, 29, during his trial in June.

Thompson was convicted of:

• Five counts of third-degree murder
• Five counts of criminal vehicular homicide (grossly negligent operation)
• Five counts of criminal vehicular homicide (leaving the scene after causing a fatal crash)

The 704-month sentence is equal to 58 years and eight months. Thompson received 767 days of credit for time already served.

The women killed ranged in age from 17 to 20: Sabiriin Mahamoud Ali, Siham Ada Odhowa, Sahra Liban Gesaade, Sagal Burhaan Hersi, and Salma Mohamed Abdikadir.

Prosecutors noted that Thompson’s conduct was especially egregious given his prior conviction for a similar offense in which he nearly killed someone.

"Today is a day to center Salma, Sahra, Sagal, Sabiriin, and Siham and their families," Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said.

"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."

What Happened

On June 16, 2023, a trooper with the Minnesota State Patrol observed a black Cadillac SUV speeding northbound on Interstate 35W at 95 mph in a 55 mph zone, according to investigators.

Thompson, the driver, abruptly cut across four lanes of traffic to exit at Lake Street in Minneapolis. The trooper followed without activating emergency lights, fearing a pursuit might lead to dangerous behavior.

Moments later, at the intersection of 2nd Avenue South and East Lake Street, Thompson ran a red light at full speed and crashed into a Honda Civic that was lawfully crossing the intersection, authorities said. All five occupants of the Civic were killed.

Witnesses said Thompson fled on foot through a nearby alley. Police later found him sitting on a curb outside a restaurant and arrested him. He was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center for evaluation.

A rental agreement found at the scene showed Thompson had rented the Cadillac just 30 minutes earlier from Hertz at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, investigators said.

A search of the SUV uncovered a black leather bag containing:

• A loaded Glock pistol with an extended magazine
• Three baggies with over 2,000 "M-Box 30" fentanyl pills
• A baggie with 14 grams of powdered fentanyl
• A baggie with 13 MDMA pills
• A baggie with 35 grams of cocaine
• A digital scale

Thompson has multiple prior felony convictions and is federally prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition, according to authorities.