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

On Sunday, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara apologized to a man shot by his neighbor after a year of harassment and intimidation.

The victim, Davis Moturi, believes his neighbor shot him, and he says he has gone to police several times over the past year about the threats.

At the time of publication, that neighbor, John Herbert Sawchak, 54, has a warrant out for his arrest. Sawchak is charged with attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, stalking and intimidation committed because of bias.

RELATED: A man accused of shooting a neighbor in Minneapolis had a history of threats and intimidation

On Sunday evening, a photographer from 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS captured Minneapolis police officers serving an arrest warrant at Sawchak’s home. Starting at 10:20 p.m., officers spoke over an intercom and asked Sawchak to leave the house before police escalated the situation.

During a news conference Sunday, Chief O’Hara said police failed Moturi.

“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,” O’Hara said.

O’Hara’s apology comes after several members of the Minneapolis City Council called on Mayor Frey and MPD to back down and arrest Sawchak.

In response to O’Hara’s apology, Moturi told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS on Sunday evening: ‘He didn’t apologize for anything. He said MPD failed me and I say you failed me. I have contacted you for assistance. Your agents have failed me. I asked for help at several points and when I asked you for help, you were silent.

Moturi says he was released from the hospital Sunday evening, but says he’s afraid to go home while Sawchak is still around.

Moturi told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS on Friday that he had installed a security camera at his home to capture evidence of the escalating threats. Video of the incident on Wednesday evening shows him trimming a tree near the property line of Sawchak’s apartment building before a “bang” is heard. The victim then falls backwards to the ground.

“I was like, ‘I need help.’ Part of my brain shut down,” Davis Moturi previously told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS from his hospital bed.