BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Leaders from the Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center identified the young women who died in a car crash Friday night in Minneapolis.
Abdulahi Farah, a board member, and Khalid Omar, the director of the center, were among those who talked with the families of the close-knit group of friends.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner identified the women killed on Friday as Siham Adan Odhowa, 19, Sahra Liban Gesaade, 20, Sabiriin Mohamoud Ali, 17, Sagal Burhaan Hersi, 19 and Salma Mohamed Abdikadir, 20.
"They were people who were volunteers, who were teachers, who were all successful in finishing high school, going to college, they had bright futures ahead of them," said Farah.
"These parents are part of the community," said Omar. "One mom I spoke with said she spoke with her daughter 15 minutes before the car accident. It changed their life, our community's lives."
Minneapolis Police said the driver was arrested and hospitalized after the crash. Sources confirmed to KARE 11's Lou Raguse that the suspected driver is 27-year-old Derrick Thompson, who is the son of former Minnesota Rep. John Johnson. Thompson has not yet been charged. KARE 11 typically does not identify individuals until they have been formally charged with a crime, but has chosen to do so because of the high-profile nature of this case.
On Monday, June 19, the community is invited to join in the Janazah, or funeral prayer, for the five women at the Dar Al-Farooq center, located at 8201 Park Ave, S. in Bloomington. The prayer begins at 1:30 p.m., followed by a burial at the Garden of Eden Cemetery in Burnsville. Buses will take mourners to the burial site from the center. Those attending are encouraged to carpool and can park at Burnsville High School, located at 600 State Highway 13.
Leaders said the five young women were all good friends and preparing to celebrate a friend's upcoming wedding when they died on June 16.
Their community described them as people who always volunteered at the mosque to give back, even spending Eid celebrations at the facility and making sure children had candy bags.
On Saturday, the center invited grieving friends and family, to be together and discuss the feelings they are working through.
"They were loved," said Omar. "They were loved in our community and that's why you see so many people willing to give back.
The center is raising money to support the families of the young women. As of Sunday night, they have already raised more than $350,000.
More details and information about donations can be found here.
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