After he finally admitted that he was driving the car that killed five young women in a crash two years ago in Minneapolis, Derrick John Thompson was sentenced to nearly 59 years in prison on Thursday morning in Hennepin County District Court.
He will serve five consecutive third-degree murder sentences for each of his victims: Sabiriin Ali, Sahra Gesaade, Salma Abdikadir, Sagal Hersi and Siham Adam.
Before being sentenced, Thompson spoke for the first time publicly since the 2023 crash and begged for forgiveness, saying he never wanted to go to trial but had no choice. He turned to the gallery, filled with family members and friends of the victims, and said he was sorry for what he did. “There is not a day I don’t ask God why he didn’t take me instead and let your beautiful angels still be here,” Thompson said.
The family members and friends of his victims who spoke at the sentencing, extended no forgiveness. They tore into Thompson for his selfishness in waiting until sentencing to admit his crimes and putting their families through two criminal trials.
He was called a “loser” and an inhumane person who lacked remorse and whose decisions that led to the crash were anything but an accident. Thompson drove a rented Cadillac Escalade more than 110 miles per hour down Interstate 35W before taking an exit onto Lake Street, blowing through a red light and obliterating a Honda Civic carrying the five young women.
“I hope reality suffocates you for the rest of your life,” said Sundus Odhowa, Siham’s older sister. “You should never know freedom again. You should never know peace.”
Sundus Ali, Sabiriin’s older sister, said whatever responsibility Thompson admitted to on Thursday was calculated and lacked honesty.
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