A community is grieving after a speeding driver which a history of hit-and-runs hit another vehicle in south Minneapolis Friday night, killing four women and one teenage girl.According to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, a state trooper saw a speeding driver on Interstate 35W around 10:15 p.m. Before the trooper could stop the vehicle, the driver exited onto Second Avenue and ran a red light, hitting another vehicle at the Lake Street intersection.”These were individuals who had a bright future,” said Dar Al Farooq Center’s Mosque Director Khalid Omar. “We’re talking about the pearls. We’re talking about the bright stars of our community.””We haven’t seen a tragedy of five young individuals who passed away at the scene at an incident like this,” Omar added. “We’ve never seen something like that before.”The speeding driver ran off but was later caught by police. Police believe the driver may have been impaired.The Dar Al Farooq Islamic Center identified the victims as Sabiriin Ali, Sahra Gesaade, Salma Abdikadir, Sagal Hersi and Siham Adam.Ali had just graduated from Edina High School and was planning to attend the University of Minnesota. Gesaade, 20, was about to start her junior year at the U of M Rochester. Abdikadir, 20, attended Normandale College. Adam, 19, attended the U of M. Hersi, 19, attended Minneapolis College.The five were inseparable and were out together Friday night preparing for a friend’s wedding slated for Saturday.A small memorial grew at the scene on Saturday morning.”Losing anyone, that’s a tragedy. But losing five young people at the same time, is something that is very hard to process,” said Omar.Councilmember Jamal Osman said he is frustrated and hurt that the driver of the other car tried to run before he was arrested.”This kind of reckless behavior from an individual who survived, who took five girls who had their future away. We want justice for these girls,” he said. Sources say the driver of the speeding vehicle was 27-year-old Derrick John Thompson, the son of former Minnesota State Representative John Thompson.Derrick Thompson has been convicted twice in Minnesota of fleeing the police and in one case admitting he had smoked marijuana. Thompson had previously been convicted in California of fleeing the police in 2018 and hitting a pedestrian and putting her in a coma.He had received an 8-year prison sentence and it is unclear how long he was serving before being released.
A community is grieving after a speeding driver which a history of hit-and-runs hit another vehicle in south Minneapolis Friday night, killing four women and one teenage girl.
According to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, a state trooper saw a speeding driver on Interstate 35W around 10:15 p.m. Before the trooper could stop the vehicle, the driver exited onto Second Avenue and ran a red light, hitting another vehicle at the Lake Street intersection.
“These were individuals who had a bright future,” said Dar Al Farooq Center’s Mosque Director Khalid Omar. “We’re talking about the pearls. We’re talking about the bright stars of our community.”
“We haven’t seen a tragedy of five young individuals who passed away at the scene at an incident like this,” Omar added. “We’ve never seen something like that before.”
The speeding driver ran off but was later caught by police. Police believe the driver may have been impaired.
The Dar Al Farooq Islamic Center identified the victims as Sabiriin Ali, Sahra Gesaade, Salma Abdikadir, Sagal Hersi and Siham Adam.
Ali had just graduated from Edina High School and was planning to attend the University of Minnesota. Gesaade, 20, was about to start her junior year at the U of M Rochester. Abdikadir, 20, attended Normandale College. Adam, 19, attended the U of M. Hersi, 19, attended Minneapolis College.
The five were inseparable and were out together Friday night preparing for a friend’s wedding slated for Saturday.
A small memorial grew at the scene on Saturday morning.
“Losing anyone, that’s a tragedy. But losing five young people at the same time, is something that is very hard to process,” said Omar.
Councilmember Jamal Osman said he is frustrated and hurt that the driver of the other car tried to run before he was arrested.
“This kind of reckless behavior from an individual who survived, who took five girls who had their future away. We want justice for these girls,” he said.
Sources say the driver of the speeding vehicle was 27-year-old Derrick John Thompson, the son of former Minnesota State Representative John Thompson.
Derrick Thompson has been convicted twice in Minnesota of fleeing the police and in one case admitting he had smoked marijuana.
Thompson had previously been convicted in California of fleeing the police in 2018 and hitting a pedestrian and putting her in a coma.
He had received an 8-year prison sentence and it is unclear how long he was serving before being released.
