MINNEAPOLIS— The Minneapolis NAACP then calls for accountability Davis Moturi’s years of complaints about harassment by his neighbor, John Sawchak, remained unanswered.
The NAACP says dereliction of duty led to a shooting in the city of Minneapolis.
They agree with many in the community that police in Minneapolis lack urgency in responding to Moturi’s escalating calls for help.
“We stand here today to let the community know that we heard you, we hear you that what you saw was real, your questions are legitimate,” said Cynthia Wilson, president of the Minnesota NAACP.
The shooting was captured on a surveillance camera at Moturi’s home. Moturi is seen pruning a tree near the property line he shares with Sawchak before a bang is heard and he collapses.
Some groups say police did not intervene to prevent the shooting and demanding that the police chief be fired.
“We don’t come here today looking for anyone’s job, but what we look for is responsibility and we strive to get it,” Wilson said.
Sawchak was arrested five days after the shooting and is charged with attempted murder.
The NAACP wants a sincere apology from Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara and Mayor Jacob Frey.
Information officers in Minneapolis say O’Hara already made the announcement this week during a press conference.
“In this case, we 100 percent failed this victim because that should not have happened to him. The Minneapolis Police Department somehow failed to act urgently enough to prevent that victim from being shot and against that victim I say I’m sorry,” O’Hara said.
Wilson says she is looking for solutions and working with the Unity Community Mediation team to continue working toward reform within the Minneapolis Police Department.
“We are optimistic that we have worked with law enforcement, we have worked with our community leaders, and we will continue to do that as we look for opportunities to create change and reform the culture of law enforcement here. the city of Minneapolis,” Wilson said.
The NAACP says it will continue to ask questions and meet with police to ensure police understand how to better serve the community.
Frey has said everyone should work on solutions rather than getting involved in what he sees as a political fight.
