Minnesota Man Accused of Crash That Killed 5 Charged With Murder
Minneapolis, MN (KROC-AM News) - Murder has been added to the list of charges against a Minnesota man accused of killing five people while trying to elude a State Trooper.
The Hennepin County Attorney's Office today announced that an amended criminal complaint had been filed against 28-year-old Derrick John Thompson. The Brooklyn Park man is accused of speeding through a red light at an intersection in Minneapolis and colliding with another vehicle, resulting in the deaths of five young women, who ranged in age from 17 to 20 years old.
READ MORE: Man with hit-and-run history jailed after high-speed crash kills 5 Young Women in Minneapolis
The horrific crash occurred on the night of June 16, 2023 after a State Trooper allegedly spotted Thompson speeding at around 95 mph when he passed the trooper on I-35 before exiting onto Lake Street. The criminal complaint indicates the trooper did not activate his emergency lights but followed Thompson as he pulled off the freeway.
“The senseless deaths of these five young women at the hands of Mr. Thompson has devastated their families and communities,” said Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty. “The sad fact is that he has done this before. Just six months before this crash, Mr. Thompson was released from a California prison for fleeing police, speeding off the highway and onto city streets where he struck and severely injured a woman. His lengthy record of dangerous driving, the trail of devastation he’s left in his wake, and his conduct in this case make these more serious charges appropriate. We will continue to seek a lengthy period of incarceration to keep the community safe"
According to a news release from the Hennepin County Attorney's Office, Thompson has now been charged with five counts of third-degree murder. That is in addition to the 10 counts of criminal vehicular homicide that were filed against him following the deadly collision.
The news release also notes that Thompson has a history of dangerous driving that includes previous convictions for a hit and run in California that resulted in serious injuries six years ago.
READ MORE: Crash That Killed 5 Leads to Federal Indictment Against MN Man
Thompson, who is the son of former State Representative John Thompson, is also facing a federal indictment on drug trafficking and weapons-related charges. The US Attorney for Minnesota, in announcing the indictment back in December, indicated a conviction in the case could result in a life prison sentence.
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Gallery Credit: Jessica On The Radio
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