MINNEAPOLIS— Community activists are demanding action a week after Davis Moturi was shot by his neighbor while doing yard work outside his south Minneapolis home.
The man, identified as John Sawchak, is charged with four counts: attempted second-degree murder, assault with intent to do great bodily harm, stalking and intimidation.
“The leadership of both the mayor and the police chief is not acceptable when it comes to reforming the Minneapolis Police Department in the way they need to be reformed,” said Michelle Gross, president of Communities United Against Police Brutality.
The shooting occurred after months of intimidation, nearly two dozen police reports and several arrest warrants for Sawchak.
Officers finally took the accused gunman into custody Monday after a high-stakes confrontation five days after the shooting.
“The fact that a man shoots his neighbor and sits in his house for five days without consequences is unacceptable,” Gross said.
Now it will be community activists making the calls that the city’s top leaders will resign during Thursday’s council meeting.
Last week, Chief O’Hara said they were playing it safe while waiting for the suspect to be arrested in a place where he would be least likely to have access to firearms.
During a press conference Monday following Sawchak’s arrest, Mayor Frey said he supported MPD’s actions.
In a statement, Chief O’Hara promised a “complete review” and implementation of changes, adding “this is the least we can do in the ongoing effort to become the department the community demands.”
Communities united against police brutality demand:
-An independent third party to investigate how MPD handled the case
-the city to immediately pay Moturi’s medical bills
-and Police Chief O’Hara is fired
In a statement from the mayor’s office in response to these demands:
“Mayor Frey supports the post-incident review of this tragic incident. He expresses his condolences to the victim, his wife and their family and friends.
Brian O’Hara remains Minneapolis police chief.”
