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A Minneapolis homeowner and his wife endured persistent harassment and dangerous actions from their next-door neighbor for over a year, according to a lawsuit filed by the property owner. 

In Oct. 2024, the neighbor is alleged to have followed up on his threats and shot the homeowner, Davis Moturi, in the neck outside of his home.

Lawyers for Moturi, 36, and his wife, Caroline Moturi, also named as a plaintiff, have filed suit against his home's previous owners, former Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara, the City of Minneapolis and the shooter, John Sawchak.

that led to him being shot in his own yard

The lawsuit claims that Sawchak also harassed and threatened the previous owners, Erik and Jessica Hane. 

According to the lawsuit, “on or about May 31, 2023, the Hanes called 9-1-1 to report they were concerned for their safety because Mr. Sawchak stated he should have shot Mr. Hane … They heard Mr. Sawchak yell, ‘I’m gonna kill you outside our window.’”

Sometime after June 4, 2023, the Hanes placed the property on Grand Avenue near 36th Street on the market. 

The suit alleges the Hanes “made intentional and material omissions and misrepresentations during the sale process.”

Had the information about Sawchak been clearly stated, the suit says, the Moturis would not have bought the house.

The lawsuit claims Minneapolis Police Department officers failed to perform their duty to execute arrest warrants and take Sawchak into custody.

The Moturis closed on the house on Sept. 8, 2023.

Shortly after, the Moturis began to get harassed. In October, Sawchak called Davis Moturi a racial slur and soaked the Moturis’ property with his sprinklers, according to the suit. Police were called.

In December, Davis Moturi called police to say Sawchak was “blaring an airhorn outside his bedroom window in the middle of the night,” the lawsuit states. 

Based on Sawchak’s conduct toward the plaintiffs, arrest warrants had been issued for the defendant, the suit said. MPD officers had a ministerial duty to execute the warrants and take Sawchak into custody, but they didn’t, according to the lawsuit.

“These failures occurred because MPD failed to properly supervise its officers, including regarding the scope of their lawful authority to arrest Mr. Sawchak,” the lawsuit said.

The court filing said the October 2024 shooting caused “severe and permanent injury” to Moturi.

The couple seeks payment for past and future wage loss and medical bills.

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Regina Medina

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A Minneapolis couple has sued their home’s previous owners, the city, former police chief Brian O’Hara and neighbor John Sawchak, alleging that concealed threats, police inaction and escalating harassment culminated in Sawchak allegedly shooting Davis Moturi outside his home.

Suit alleges police inaction preceded Minneapolis neighbor shooting

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