The man accused of shooting a neighbor in Minneapolis had a history of threats, harassment

An arrest warrant has been issued for a Minneapolis man after a yearlong pattern of harassment and intimidation by his neighbors ended in a shooting earlier this week, according to court documents.

John Herbert Souchak, 54, was charged with attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, stalking and bias-motivated assault.

The criminal complaint says the victim, Davis Moturi, was cutting a tree Wednesday night near the property line with Sawchak’s apartment building when it fell to the ground. Moturi’s wife later found him curled up in the driveway of their home, and he did not realize at the time that he had been shot.

A medical examination revealed that he was injured by a small-caliber bullet that lodged near Moturi Ridge. The angle of the stab wound indicated that it was fired from above. According to the complaint, Moturi’s wife told police that Sawchak “almost certainly” shot her husband.

The couple purchased their home in the 3500 block of Grand Avenue South in September 2023. Since then, they told police they have faced numerous threats from Sauchak, who lives in a second-floor apartment next door.

A week before the shooting, Savchak allegedly told Motura: “Touch my tree one more time and I’ll kill you.” He threatened Motura through a tree back in October 2023.

Other incidents included threats to “put the victim in hospital” while he was working on a ladder, having objects thrown at him from a second floor window and threateningly holding a knife in the window while threatening a couple. Recently, on October 14, Savchak pointed a gun at the victim from the window. Many of the threats were laced with racial slurs and slurs, according to the complaint.

In total, Moturi and his wife reported 19 incidents of vandalism, property damage, aggressive acts and threats in the year they lived in the neighborhood.

Online documents show that Savchak has not yet been taken into custody. Court records show he has at least three other outstanding warrants related to “threats or acts of violence” against the victim and her neighbors.