Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis chief says department 'failed' victim shot by neighbor
Minneapolis PD arresting accused neighbor shooter
Minneapolis police are working Sunday night to arrest the man accused of shooting his neighbor last week.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara says the department failed the man who investigators say was shot by his neighbor while cutting a tree.
Sunday night, after days of inaction, Minneapolis police attempted to take the suspect, John Sawchak, into custody.
The victim, Davis Moturi, is still trying to piece together why his neighbor hadn’t already been arrested for shooting him. Police said they’re trying to make the arrest safely because officers consider Sawchak armed and dangerous.
What are they saying?
Chief O’Hara admits what happened to the victim shouldn’t have happened.
“He tried to kill me. And if it weren’t for a few inches, you know, I would have been dead,” said Moturi.
Moturi just got out of the hospital on Sunday. He can’t go home and recover, because Sawchak is still in his home right now.
“Essentially, I’m homeless until the cops decide to go and somehow capture John,” said Moturi.
John Sawchak still hasnt been arrested, despite shooting his neighbor days ago and being charged with attempted murder. (FOX 9)
Background
Sawchak has been civilly committed in the past. Court documents show Sawchak has an extreme risk protection order. It shows he threatened to kill a neighbor multiple times, made threats to shoot his sister, and slashed an off-duty police officer’s tire.
The threats and acts of violence date back to 2016. Currently, Sawchak faces second-degree attempted murder, assault, and harassment charges after investigators say he shot Moturi.
“In this particular instance, we failed this victim 100%, because that should not have happened to him,” said Brian O’Hara, Minneapolis Police Chief.
Sunday, O’Hara apologized for his officers’ response to the situation.
“The Minneapolis Police somehow did not act urgently enough to prevent that individual from being shot,” said O’Hara.
Moturi’s wife Caroline has been back to their home two times with a police escort. She tells us a lieutenant asked her to be patient with the police department.
“I said, patience is what has gotten my husband shot. We’ve been patient for over a year,” said Caroline Moturi, Davis’ wife.
What’s next?
Chief O’Hara is letting everyone know, they’re working on arresting Sawchak.
“I’m sure most of the residents there know we have been there 24/7, the last few days, we have been trying to get this person into custody safely,” said O’Hara.
O’Hara also said they used their behavioral threat assessment team, a psychiatrist, and talked to Sawchak’s family. He says that hasn’t worked. He mentioned they’re running out of options before they have to escalate them. He believes it will ultimately come to that.
The scene of the crash at 26th Avenue North and Emerson Avenue North in Minneapolis. (FOX 9)
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – A Minneapolis woman was sentenced for her role in a deadly crash that killed two women and injured two other people in December 2024.
READ MORE: Minneapolis woman charged in fatal high-speed crash faces additional charges
Woman sentenced in fatal Minneapolis crash
Big picture view:
Prosecutors say Teniki Steward drove a Buick Enclave into a bus shelter and a Ford Explorer after speeding through a red light.
Both of the women in the Ford Explorer died in the crash. They were identified as 53-year-old Ester Jean Fulks and 57-year-old Rose Elaine Reece.
During the crash, the Ford Explorer went off the road, injuring a 17-year-old boy who was waiting for a school bus.
The passenger in Steward’s vehicle also suffered injuries.
Minneapolis police said that Steward was also injured in the crash.
Steward pleaded guilty to multiple murder charges.
What they’re saying:
During the sentencing, the daughter of one of the victims had a statement read on her behalf:
“There’s nothing that can truly prepare you for the moment your entire world is taken from you. Losing my mom has left a pain in my heart that words will never be able to explain.”
What’s next:
Minnesota law requires that Steward serves at least two-thirds of her sentence, a bit under eight-and-a-half years, in prison.
Fatal Emerson and 26th crash
The backstory:
According to the criminal complaint, through surveillance videos from the scene of the crash and witnesses, investigators learned that Steward, driving the Buick Enclave, had been driving at a high rate of speed northbound on Emerson Avenue North.
Before the fatal crash, Steward sped through the intersection of Emerson Avenue North and Broadway Avenue North, running a red light and nearly causing a crash, the charges said.
Steward then continued to speed northbound down Emerson Avenue North, and ran another red light at 26th Avenue North, hitting the Ford Explorer, which was traveling eastbound, according to the complaint.
The Ford Explorer had been at the intersection of Emerson and 26th on a green light.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty shared the following statement:
“This was an egregious act that took Rose and Esther’s lives and injured a child waiting to go to school at a bus stop. Ms. Steward was driving at extremely dangerous speeds on city streets and narrowly avoided multiple collisions before the incident occurred. Third-degree murder charges are appropriate to hold her accountable and protect our community.”
The Source: This story uses information gathered from an Olmsted County court appearance and previous FOX 9 reporting.
A motorcyclist is dead after an early morning crash in Minneapolis Friday morning.
The Minnesota State Patrol said that at 1:20 a.m., a Suzuki Motorcycle going north on I-35W at Johnson Street hit the left side of the median guard rail.
The motorcycle continued north for about another quarter mile before coming to a rest on the right-hand side.
State Patrol said the rider came to rest on the left shoulder. He was later identified as 21-year-old Andrew James Neuberger.
ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – The Rochester Spartans boys volleyball team played its second game on consecutive nights. The Spartans beat Minneapolis Camden 3-0.
Rochester’s next game will be Tuesday, April 21, at St. Anthony Village at 7:00 p.m.
Find stories like this and more in our apps.
Copyright 2026 KTTC. All rights reserved.
-
Detroit, MI2 hours agoFormer Piston shows Detroit what they’re missing as he dominates next to LeBron
-
San Francisco, CA2 hours agoEastbound I-80 closure in San Francisco snarls traffic, slows business
-
Videos2 hours agoCan Keir Starmer survive the latest Mandelson revelations? | BBC News
-
Dallas, TX2 hours agoPetar Musa’s Brace Not Enough as FC Dallas Draws LA Galaxy 2-2
-
Miami, FL2 hours agoMLS: Messi double helps Inter Miami slay Rapids in front of huge crowd
-
Boston, MA2 hours agoFrom across Boston they flock to play for Latin Academy boys’ tennis, a co-op of 29 schools – The Boston Globe
-
Denver, CO2 hours agoDale Kistler Obituary | The Denver Post
-
Seattle, WA2 hours agoWEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Warm day, but far below record