Derrick Thompson faces murder charges after fatal crash in Minneapolis
- Derrick Thompson faces serious charges after a high-speed crash in Minneapolis that killed five young women.
- Witnesses, including Thompson's brother and a forensic scientist, provided crucial testimony during the trial.
- The outcome of the trial will have significant implications for Thompson, who is charged with multiple counts of murder.
On June 16, 2023, a tragic incident occurred in south Minneapolis involving Derrick Thompson, the son of a former Minnesota state representative. During the early hours of the trial, witnesses started to provide testimony about the crash that claimed the lives of five young women: Salma Abdikadir, Siham Odhowa, Sahra Gesaade, Sagal Hersi, and Sabiriin Ali. Eyewitness accounts revealed how Thompson allegedly drove erratically, exceeding speeds of over 100 mph before running a red light and colliding with a Honda Civic. His actions caught the attention of law enforcement, leading to a police officer detaining him at the crash scene. Through the witness testimonies, it was noted that Thompson displayed signs of having been involved in the crash, including injuries to his face. The prosecution emphasized that the evidence was substantial against him. In contrast, Thompson's defense team argued that it was his brother, Damarco Thompson, who was actually driving the vehicle at the time of the accident. Damarco testified that he had earlier driven Derrick to the airport, where they rented a vehicle. During their testimony, he claimed that at no point did he drive the Cadillac Escalade, which was involved in the crash. Following these testimonies, the prosecution and defense officially rested their cases, and closing arguments were anticipated to begin soon, culminating in what is expected to be a significant verdict regarding the charges of murder and vehicular homicide against Derrick Thompson.