"It breaks my heart": Families of 5 killed in south Mpls. crash call for independent investigation into case
MINNEAPOLIS -- The families of the five women killed in a car crash on Lake Street in Minneapolis earlier this month are speaking out publicly for the very first time.
On the evening of June 16, Minneapolis police say a driver was going roughly 100 mph and ran a red light at the intersection of Lake Street and Second Avenue.
That's when he allegedly slammed into a car carrying five friends out shopping for a friend's wedding: Sabiriin Ali, 17, who had recently graduated from Edina High School; Sahra Gesaade, 20, who attended the University of Minnesota Rochester; Salma Abdikadir, 20, who studied at Normandale Community College and taught Sunday school; Sagal Hersi, 19, who was a student at Minneapolis College; and Siham Adam, 19, who studied at the University of Minnesota.
All five victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
Family members speak out
Family members said the five victims were all friends and were out getting henna tattoos and shopping for a friend's wedding, which was scheduled to take place the next day.
Hersi's cousin was the first to speak, he explained that she was a student at MCTC working to transfer to the University of Minnesota.
"Today we mourn the loss of Sagal, her bright future her laughter, and her dreams," Abdulkani Odhowa said.
All five were active in their faith and at their mosque. Abdikadir was a Sunday school teacher with a heart for others.
"Salma was a kind and gentle person. She was like the therapist in our friend group. I believe this is why she was pursuing a degree in psychology at St. Paul College," friend Yusra Ali said.
Gesaade was a determined student, too, pre-med with hopes of becoming an orthopedic surgeon.
"You made our parents so proud of your accomplishments, not only academically but as a compassionate human being," her sister Rukia Gesaade said.
Ali, the youngest of the group, was on a medical path as well, studying to be a physician's assistant.
"Though you were young, you had a profound understanding of the world way beyond your age, and an empathy that extended far beyond your young age," her sister Sundus Mohamoud Ali said.
Adam's sister shared about her sister as well, who was studying computer science, and like the others, she stood heartbroken over what happened and what was supposed to happen next.
"It breaks my heart that I will not witness her getting married or graduating from college and growing old with her. Sahim was not only my baby sister; she was my best friend," Sundus Adan Odhowa said.
Calls for independent investigation
The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations joined the families in calling for an independent investigation of the deadly incident. CAIR-MN Executive Director Jaylani Hussein says the tragedy continues to impact the community, and Gov. Tim Walz needs to step in.
"We're asking the governor of the state of Minnesota to create an independent investigation into this case. To learn more about many of the conflicting information that has surfaced in this case, and to rest assure all of us that we are diligent to these cases," Hussein said. "As I heard from the families, this is a pain they hope will never be brought forth to any family in our state, in our country."
Derrick Thompson, 27, has been charged with 10 counts of criminal vehicular homicide in the case. He also faces federal drug charges. More charges could be filed once blood toxicology tests are in. Thompson was involved in a similar crash in Southern California in 2018.
Thompson is the son of former state Rep. John Thompson, a Democrat who represented the St. Paul area.