Man accused of shooting neighbor after years of dispute arrested overnight

Minneapolis police say a suspect in the shooting has been taken into custody after several hours of negotiations.

According to police, 54-year-old John Herbert Sawchak is now being held on suspicion of attempted second-degree murder, as well as others.

Things between police, the SWAT team and Sawchak began to escalate early Sunday evening. It wasn’t until just before 1:30 a.m. Monday that police said Sawchak finally surrendered peacefully — an arrest five days in the making.

Sawchak has reportedly been feuding with a neighbor for a year, and that fight escalated last Wednesday when officials said Sawchak shot that neighbor, who has been identified as Davis Moturi.

Moturi is now out of the hospital and recovering from his injury, but says his fears about the situation were only exacerbated by Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, who claimed police suggested he played a role in causing the shooting .

“He publicly tarnished my reputation,” Moturi said. “How do I get that back?”

As reported on Friday by 5 EYEWITNESS NEWSChief O’Hara said that “the situation escalated in part due to actions provoked by the victim.” He then apologized to Moturi on Sunday, saying the police had failed him.

RELATED: ‘We failed this victim’: MPD chief apologizes to man allegedly shot by neighbor

“Yes. In this case, we failed this victim. 100%. Because that should not have happened to him. Somehow the Minneapolis police did not act urgently enough to prevent that person from being shot. And to that victim I say: I’m sorry,” he said.

During a press conference about Sawchak’s arrest on Monday night, O’Hara praised his officers for their efforts to arrest him, adding that he is grateful for a peaceful resolution.

“This is an example of what de-escalation looks like and how we strive every day for a peaceful resolution of situations. And the fact is that this is not unusual. This is what our officers and our SWAT do every day,” O’Hara said.

Several members of the Minneapolis City Council called on Mayor Jacob Frey and the Minneapolis Police Department to arrest Sawchak sooner.

Frey responded again Monday morning, saying the continued politicization of the city’s police force must stop.

“We don’t need to see this continued politicization of work. Our officers work tirelessly, with limited resources and staff, doing everything they can to ensure this city is safe,” Frey said. “And to those who say our chief and officers have apologized, I say they are the ones doing their best to protect and serve every day, and I am proud to work with them.”

Court records show Sawchak will make his first appearance Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.