Background: The intersection in Minneapolis where the alleged incident occurred on April 30, 2025 (Google Maps). Inset: Sophia Sullivan (Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office).
A Minnesota woman was charged with second-degree murder after police said she hit four people with her car, one of whom died from their injuries.
Sophia Sullivan, aged 38, was taken into custody at the Hennepin County Jail on April 30, the day she is accused of driving her Honda Accord into four pedestrians in Minneapolis. As reported by a criminal complaint accessed by the local Fox affiliate KSMP, Sullivan allegedly began her series of offenses by running a red light, striking two pedestrians — a woman in her 40s and a teenage girl — as they were crossing at an intersection within the designated crosswalk around 6:19 p.m.
The complaint further details Sullivan’s alleged actions, suggesting her hazardous driving continued. It describes that moments later, Sullivan purportedly “accelerated” towards two more pedestrians — both a man and a woman in their 30s — as they passed through another crosswalk located further along the road.
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KROQ, a local radio station, reported that the second incident was captured on surveillance cameras and put Sullivan’s alleged actions on full display. The criminal complaint stated that after Sullivan drove “parallel” to the pair, the two entered the crosswalk, at which point Sullivan allegedly “accelerated to a high speed and plowed directly into them.”
According to the complaint, the man was thrown 30 feet into the air and landed by a parked vehicle. The woman was reportedly thrown onto the hood of Sullivan’s car, then Sullivan hit the brakes, sending the woman to the road by the curb. According to the complaint, Sullivan allegedly “appeared to swerve the car towards [the woman] and ran her over.”
While the woman was “lodged” under Sullivan’s car, Sullivan allegedly “continued to drive down the road, dragging [the woman] under the car.” Sullivan then allegedly swerved back and forth, eventually dislodging the woman, whom she allegedly ran over again with her rear tires.
The first two alleged victims suffered cuts and burn marks, according to KSMP. The man from the second alleged incident was brought to the hospital for a fractured wrist, scrapes, and abrasions. The woman sustained serious injuries and died on May 2.
Police tracked down Sullivan’s vehicle at her apartment building, where they found it had a smashed windshield and “fresh blood” on it. KSMP reported that Sullivan’s license had been revoked in 2015.
Sullivan was arrested and booked into Hennepin County Jail on April 30, where she is being held on $2 million bond. She was charged with one count of second-degree murder, three counts of attempted second-degree murder, three counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, and five counts of criminal vehicular operation. Her next court appearance is scheduled for June 3.
