Moturi shooting victim sues Minneapolis, ex-chief, seller, neighbor
Davis Moturi filed a civil lawsuit in Hennepin County District Court against the City of Minneapolis, former police chief Brian O'Hara, his home's previous owners and neighbor John Sawchak.[1]
The complaint says Erik and Jessica Hane had a restraining order against Sawchak from June 2023 but answered "No" on the seller disclosure form about material facts affecting use or enjoyment of the property.[1] It alleges a gross-misdemeanor harassment warrant for Sawchak was issued April 5, 2024 and a felony warrant was filed in July.[1] The suit says police never served those warrants before Sawchak allegedly shot Moturi in the neck while he trimmed a tree on Oct. 23, 2024.[1]
Erik and Jessica Hane obtained a restraining order in 2023 after repeated incidents including threats and multiple police calls, then sold the south Minneapolis home to Davis and Caroline Moturi that year.[1] After moving in, the Moturis filed at least 19 police reports describing harassment, threats, racist comments and property damage by Sawchak.[1] Sawchak was arrested Oct. 28, 2024, later found incompetent to stand trial in 2025, and is named in the civil suit for battery; Moturi seeks a jury trial and damages.[1]
The lawsuit accuses former Chief Brian O'Hara of defamation for publicly saying Moturi "escalated" the situation and later admitting MPD "did not act urgently enough" and "failed this victim." FOX 9
The mainstream summary does not address the broader context of the decline in police operational capacity, which has been significantly impacted by high officer turnover following the 2020 protests. Research indicates that this decline has led to chronic understaffing within police departments, impairing their ability to respond effectively to incidents like those experienced by the Moturis. This structural issue may have contributed to the Minneapolis Police Department's failure to act on the warrants issued for Sawchak prior to the shooting, highlighting a systemic failure rather than merely individual negligence. According to a study by SM Mourtgos et al., these operational challenges have resulted in longer response times and a lack of proactive intervention in cases of harassment and threats, such as those reported by the Moturis.[2]
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📌 Key Facts
- Davis Moturi filed a civil lawsuit in Hennepin County District Court against the City of Minneapolis, former MPD Chief Brian O’Hara, his home’s previous owners, and neighbor John Sawchak.
- The complaint says the prior owners had a restraining order against Sawchak from June 2023 but answered “No” on the seller disclosure form when asked about material facts affecting use or enjoyment of the property.
- An arrest warrant for Sawchak on gross-misdemeanor harassment charges was issued April 5, 2024, followed by a felony warrant in July, but MPD allegedly never served them before Sawchak allegedly shot Moturi in the neck on Oct. 23, 2024.
- The lawsuit accuses O’Hara of defamation for publicly stating that Moturi “escalated” the situation and later quotes him admitting MPD “did not act urgently enough” and “failed this victim.”
- Sawchak, found incompetent to stand trial in 2025, is sued for battery in the civil case, which seeks a jury trial and damages for physical, emotional and financial harm.
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