“We let this victim down”: the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs apologized to the allegedly shot neighbor

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

The victim, Davis Moturi, believes his neighbor shot him and says he has called police several times over the past year because of threats.

At the time of publication, an arrest warrant was issued for that neighbor, 54-year-old John Herbert Souchak. Savchak is charged with attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, stalking and bias-motivated assault.

On Sunday evening, a 5 NEWS eyewitness photographer filmed Minneapolis police officers serving a warrant at Savchak’s home. As of 10:20 p.m., police were speaking over the intercom, asking Savchak to leave the house before law enforcement escalated the situation.

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

“Yes. In this case, we failed this sacrifice. 100% Because this should not have happened to him. For some reason, the Minneapolis police did not act quickly enough to prevent this person from being shot. And to that victim, I say I’m sorry,” O’Hara said.

O’Hara apologized after several members of the Minneapolis City Council called on Mayor Frey and the MPD to come and arrest Sawczak.

In response to O’Hara’s apology, Moturi told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS Sunday night, “He didn’t apologize for anything. He said MPD failed me and I say you failed me. I turned to you for help. Your officers 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 night, but says he’s afraid to go home while Savchak is still around.

Moturi told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS on Friday that he installed a security camera in his home to capture evidence of the escalating threats. Video of the incident Wednesday night shows him trimming a tree near the property line with Savczak’s apartment building before hearing a “pop.” Then the victim falls to the ground.

“I thought, ‘I need help.’ A part of my brain shut down,” Davis Moturi previously told 5 EYE-EYEWEIGHT NEWS from his hospital bed.