A Minnesota man, Davis Moturi, was shot in the neck while cleaning up his yard by his 54-year-old neighbor, John Sawchak, after nearly a year of racially charged threats. The shooting, captured on surveillance footage, occurred as Moturi was pruning a tree in broad daylight outside his Minneapolis home.
Moturi, who is black, had reported multiple incidents of threats, hate speech, and harassment by Sawchak to the police, including racially charged language used by the neighbor. Despite these reports, no action was taken leading up to the shooting on October 23.
Following the shooting, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara admitted that the department had failed in preventing the incident and acknowledged that officers should have responded sooner. Sawchak, who had mental health issues, was finally taken into custody on October 28 after a SWAT team intervention.
Sawchak now faces charges including attempted murder, stalking, and harassment. The community expressed outrage over the police response, leading the Minneapolis City Council to request an independent review of the city’s involvement and delayed response to the attack.
Prosecutors believe that race played a role in the crime, and Moturi emphasized the importance of safety for his family. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s spokesperson condemned any form of violence or hate speech, stating that the safety of residents is a top priority.
