Minneapolis City Council Members got an earful Tuesday afternoon from residents upset with the city's handling of a year-long dispute between neighbors that resulted in a shooting last month.
54-year-old John Sawchak was arrested and charged with shooting Davis Moturi who was pruning a tree in his yard. Sawchak had three active warrants at the time of his arrest.
"I can't understand how we let another Black man feel unsafe in the City of Minneapolis," one resident explained. "We knew better, but we still are not doing better. You ask us what actions should we do today? I'm asking for, take the both of them out. Take the mayor. He took the chance on the chief. He needs to go."
Moturi and his wife made at least 19 complaints to police since September 2023 regarding Sawchak's alleged racist remarks and threats.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Police Chief Brian O'Hara continue to face mounting calls to resign. Both have apologized and said an independent review of the situation is warranted.
"I am one of those folks who's calling for the chief to be fired," said Civil Rights attorney and activist Nekima Levy Armstrong. "I'm not gonna give him a pass because he knew the job that he was signing up for. And that was to help reform the culture of the Minneapolis Police Department."
Minnesota Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Executive Director Jaylani Hussein also expressed outrage.
"They call 911 19 separate times. We want the system to work for everyone," says Hussein. "We know it doesn't work for Black people, but we want it to work for everyone. It is unacceptable after the murder of George Floyd that we are talking about a family who was nearly killed because of the inaction of the Minneapolis Police Department."
Sawchak faces several charges including attempted second degree murder. Many speakers Tuesday called for Mayor Jacob Frey to resign, and for Police Chief Brian O'Hara to be fired. Frey has already said O'Hara will continue as chief of police as has Minneapolis' Community Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette.
