MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis Police are planning a "full review" after the arrest of a man who allegedly shot his neighbor last week on the city's south side. The case drew criticism because the suspect was not arrested sooner, with the police chief saying the victim had been failed.
Early Monday morning, officials took 54-year-old John Herbert Sawchak into custody after a multi-hour standoff at his home on the 3500 block of Grand Avenue S.
Sawchak was charged with attempted murder, first-degree assault, stalking and harassment. He allegedly shot his neighbor, Davis Moturi, who was pruning a tree on the line between their two properties. The criminal complaint goes on to detail numerous complaints of harassment the Moturis experienced since purchasing their house in September 2023.
"We failed this victim 100% because that should not have happened to him," said Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara in a Sunday evening press conference.
It was a different tone than O'Hara had on Friday when he defended not yet arresting Sawchak, saying "If we wound up in a deadly situation, the headlines would read 'MPD shot mentally ill person.'"
Anger and blame was directed at MPD by ranking members of the Minneapolis City Council for allegedly failing to act on Moturi's numerous complaints against Sawchak before the shooting, and failing to arrest him immediately after the shooting.
Following the arrest early Monday morning, O'Hara said in a press release a full post-incident review will be initiated. O'Hara said the police department will make changes, find weaknesses and "institutionalize any necessary protocols that will ensure a proper level of urgency, efficiency, and effectiveness."
"We must continually review our actions to ensure we are doing and being our best. Under my leadership, we will be a learning organization. We will take the time to review the facts surrounding the incidents that can have a rippling impact that starts with a victim and continues throughout the community. The shooting of Davis Moturi is one of those incidents," the press release from MPD said.
Mayor Jacob Frey released a statement Monday evening supporting O'Hara and the review. His full statement reads:
My heart is with Davis Moturi, his wife, and their families. Any time a community member experiences gun violence, it is unacceptable.
I support Chief O’Hara’s decision to conduct a post-incident review of this entire case, including Mr. Moturi’s complaints to police, the shooting that injured him, and the arrest of his alleged shooter that followed. Our City is committed to always doing better, and this means closely examining our past actions and finding when there are concrete ways to improve, grow, and learn.
Our police department will continue to do the hard work to improve how they respond to complex situations like this one while dealing with a difficult staffing shortage.
And this situation was indeed complex. Given reports of mental illness, presence of firearms, possibility of explosives—and all of this in a residential neighborhood— a careful and methodical approach was required to ensure that lives were not lost.
Even the slightest miscalculation could have resulted in the suspect, members of the community, Minneapolis police officers, or our law enforcement partners being killed. Our officers worked to de-escalate the situation and arrest the alleged perpetrator in the service of justice. I am grateful the arrest was made.