A group of Minneapolis city leaders are calling for an independent review of a recent neighbor dispute that ended with one man hospitalized after being shot and another man in custody.

As reported by 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS last week, Davis Moturi says he repeatedly called police about threats made by his neighbor, 54-year-old John Sawchak.

Many city council members are saying a separate review is necessary in this case. Prosecutors say Sawchak shot Moturi after a months-long dispute. Video shows Moturi pruning a tree near the property line and then a pop is heard before he falls to the ground.

However, it took days for officers to arrest Sawchak after prosecutors charged him with the shooting and after city council members called for police to take action.

Moturi also says for nearly a year, he had been reaching out for help from Minneapolis police regarding harassment and threats from Sawchak. On Sunday, Police Chief Brian O’Hara also apologized, saying the department “failed” Moturi.

During Thursday’s meeting, council members called for an independent review of the case in addition to the internal review.

“Seeing another Black man not be delivered the justice that they deserved and to see our police department or leadership initially blame said victim for the cause of their near-death experience — it was disheartening to hear that our actions to bring attention to eight months of inaction was labeled as political,” Ward 2 Council Member Robin Wonsley said.

Early Thursday afternoon, a spokesperson for Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey issued the following statement regarding an independent review into the shooting:

“Mayor Frey fully supports an independent review of this incident. The mayor and City are committed to always doing better, and this means closely examining past actions and finding where there may be ways to improve and grow.

“The mayor extends his condolences to Davis Moturi, his wife, Caroline, and their family and friends. The safety of our residents is a top priority and any form of violence or hate speech is completely unacceptable and does not align with who we are as a community.

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Brian O’Hara will continue to be the Minneapolis Police Chief.”

MINNEAPOLIS — A winter weather advisory has been issued for most of the Twin Cities metro area Thursday, with up to 3 inches of accumulating wet, slushy snow possible.

“As colder air begins to move in this morning, the rain will transition to heavy snow from west to east with snowfall rates of an inch per hour at times into early afternoon,” the NWS said.

“Total accumulations of 2 to 4 inches are likely in a narrow band from just north of Mankato through most of the Twin Cities metro area, to northwest Wisconsin. Locally higher totals are possible if the heaviest bands remain nearly stationary.”

Expect northwest winds of 15 to 20 mph with gusts as high as 30 or 35 mph, further deteriorating travel conditions. Temps will drop into the low 30s and upper 20s just in time for trick or treating.

Here’s the full NWS forecast from the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport:

Thursday: Rain and snow before 4pm, then a chance of rain. The rain and snow could be heavy at times. Some thunder is also possible. High near 39. Breezy, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 31. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 48. Light south southeast wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. South southeast wind around 10 mph.

Saturday: A 20 percent chance of rain before 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 57. South southwest wind around 10 mph.

Saturday Night: Rain likely after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. East southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Sunday: Rain likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58. East southeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday Night: Rain and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 51. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Monday: Rain and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 64. Southeast wind around 10 mph becoming south southwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Monday Night: Rain and possibly a thunderstorm before 1am, then rain likely. Low around 46. West southwest wind around 10 mph becoming north northwest in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Tuesday: Rain likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 55. West wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of rain. Partly cloudy, with a low around 38. West wind around 10 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 51. West wind 10 to 15 mph

MINNEAPOLIS — Community activists are demanding action a week after Davis Moturi was shot by his neighbor while doing yard work outside his south Minneapolis.

The man, identified as John Sawchak, is charged with four counts: second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault with the intent to inflict great bodily harm, stalking and harassment. 

“The leadership of both the mayor and police chief are not acceptable of reforming Minneapolis Police the way they must be reformed,” said Michelle Gross, Communities United Against Police Brutality President.

The shooting happened after months of harassment nearly 20 police reports and several arrest warrants out for Sawchak.

Officers finally took the accused shooter into custody Monday following a high-stakes standoff five days after the shooting.

“The fact that a man could shoot his neighbor and sat in his house for five days with no repercussions is unacceptable,” Gross said.

Now community activists will be the ones calling for the city’s top leaders to step down during Thursday’s council meeting.

Last week, the Chief O’Hara said they were playing it safe waiting to arrest the suspect where he would be least likely to have access to firearms.

During a press conference Monday after Sawchak’s arrest, Mayor Frey said he stood by the actions of MPD.

In a statement Chief O’Hara promised a “full review” and to implement changes adding “this is the least we can do in the ongoing effort to become the department the community demands.”

Communities United Against Police Brutality demand:

-An independent 3rd party to investigate how MPD handled the matter  

-the city TO immediately pay for Moturi’ medical bills

-and Police Chief O’Hara to be fired

In a statement from the mayor’s office in response to those demands,

“Mayor Frey supports the post-incident review of this tragic incident. He extends his condolences to the victim, his wife, and their family and friends. 

Brian O’Hara will continue to be the Minneapolis Police Chief.”