Tensions are running high in Minneapolis after a White man, John Herbert Sawchak, was charged with attempted murder for allegedly shooting his Black neighbor, Davis Moturi, in the neck during a dispute. The incident, which left Moturi with serious injuries, has sparked public outrage—not only due to the violent nature of the attack but also because police have yet to arrest Sawchak, despite his extensive history of harassment and violence.
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office announced charges against Sawchak on Thursday, including attempted murder, first-degree assault, and felony harassment and stalking, all enhanced for racial bias. According to court records, the 54-year-old suspect shot Moturi from an upstairs window while Moturi was pruning a tree on his property, an act that Sawchak had reportedly threatened to retaliate against.
Moturi, 34, is now hospitalized with a fractured spine, two broken ribs, and a concussion. “In emails, I said specifically that it’s going to take something really, really bad to happen before anything’s done,” he told reporters from his hospital bed. “And something really, really bad did happen, and he’s still free.”
This incident is not the first time Sawchak has been accused of harassment or violence. Court documents reveal a disturbing pattern of alleged threats and assaults over the years, including incidents where Sawchak reportedly brandished weapons, assaulted neighbors, and violated multiple restraining orders. Currently, he has three active warrants, including one for threats of violence against Moturi.
Despite this history, Sawchak has evaded arrest. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara explained that officers have “every intention to arrest” him, but cited concerns over Sawchak’s mental health and his access to firearms. “Based on our assessment, the likelihood of an armed, violent confrontation where we may have to use deadly force is high,” O’Hara said. He described Sawchak as a “recluse” who rarely leaves his residence, making the execution of an arrest warrant particularly challenging.
The delay in Sawchak’s arrest has sparked outrage among Minneapolis City Council members and community activists, who are demanding answers from law enforcement. In a letter to Police Chief O’Hara and Mayor Jacob Frey, Council members Andrea Jenkins, Elliott Payne, Aisha Chughtai, Jason Chavez, and Robin Wonsley criticized the Minneapolis Police Department for its failure to protect Moturi and other residents affected by Sawchak’s ongoing harassment.
Council Vice President Andrea Jenkins expressed her frustration, saying, “I’m not a police officer, I don’t know how that gets done, but I know that needs to get done. Violent criminals need to be taken off the street.”
At a press conference, Chief O’Hara countered that any suggestions that the police do not want to arrest Sawchak are “simply wrong.” However, he acknowledged that officers are hesitant due to fears of legal repercussions should the situation escalate into violence. “The officers are scared,” O’Hara admitted. “They’re scared of being prosecuted if they get into a situation where they make a mistake trying to do their job and protect the public.”
Court records paint a troubling picture of Sawchak’s behavior toward his neighbors. Since 2007, he has had at least 13 harassment restraining orders filed against him, with allegations including verbal threats, brandishing weapons, and physically assaulting neighbors. Recent incidents include threatening to kill Moturi while holding a knife, pointing a firearm at him, and spraying water on Moturi’s house to provoke him.
Moturi and his wife, who moved into their home in September 2023, say their issues with Sawchak began almost immediately, stemming from a dispute over a tree on Moturi’s property. Moturi recalled that when he approached Sawchak about the tree, the conversation quickly turned aggressive, with Sawchak making racially charged comments and threats. “He started to get very aggressive, calling me names,” Moturi said. “I was thinking he just had a bad day… but he continued to make threats and say all sorts of racially charged things.”
As tensions escalated, Moturi says he installed security cameras around his property to document Sawchak’s behavior. In one incident, Sawchak allegedly attacked Moturi with a shovel while he was doing yard work. In another, he reportedly tried to assault Moturi with a blowhorn, keeping the family awake at night with loud noises.
Despite numerous calls and emails to the police, Sawchak was never arrested for these incidents, which the family believes emboldened him further.
This case comes at a particularly sensitive time for the Minneapolis Police Department, which has faced intense scrutiny following the 2020 killing of George Floyd. Last year, a Department of Justice investigation found a pattern of excessive force and racial discrimination within the MPD, leading to increased pressure on the department to reform its practices.
Chief O’Hara acknowledged the complexities of making an arrest in a high-risk situation but expressed concern about how the public perceives police handling of racially charged cases. “If we did go in with a SWAT team and wound up with a deadly force situation, the headlines would read ‘MPD shoots a mentally ill person,’” he said, indicating the department’s awareness of the potential backlash.
The delays in arresting Sawchak have raised larger questions about how the justice system treats Black victims of violence. For Moturi and his supporters, the message is clear: the failure to act has put Black residents in harm’s way, and officials need to be held accountable.
Sawchak’s alleged actions have left Moturi and his family feeling unsafe in their own home, with little faith that law enforcement will protect them. Community activists argue that this case is emblematic of a broader issue of unequal treatment by the justice system.
“If it was the other way around, and a Black man shot a white neighbor, do we really think he’d still be sitting at home days after being charged?” one local activist asked. “This is a failure of the system to protect its most vulnerable.”
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