Police officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, have arrested a white man in connection to the racially motivated shooting of a Kenyan in the US, Davis Moturi.
Moturi was pruning a tree outside his home when Sawchak reportedly shot him in the neck, leaving him with severe injuries, including a fractured spine, broken ribs, and a concussion.
Video footage shows Moturi collapsing and his power saw still running on the ground beside him.
The Minneapolis police faced intense criticism for their delayed response, as Sawchak's arrest came over a week after the shooting. Moturi had previously reported his neighbor to authorities around 20 times for repeated harassment, though no preventive action had been taken.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara acknowledged that the police’s delayed intervention had let Moturi down, citing an oversight in the urgency of addressing Moturi’s reports. Sawchak has since been charged with attempted murder and a hate crime.
Neighbors described Sawchak as armed, dangerous, and known for racist tendencies, although reports also indicate he struggles with mental health issues. Following the shooting, a tense standoff unfolded, with Sawchak refusing to surrender as officers surrounded his home.
From his hospital bed, Moturi expressed disappointment with the police’s inaction, emphasizing the importance of timely intervention in ensuring his family’s safety.
“I call the police not for fun but to protect my family,” Moturi stated. “It’s tragic it had to escalate to this. I’m focused on recovering and returning home safely.”
The Minneapolis police's cautious approach toward such cases has come under scrutiny, especially following the killing of George Floyd in the same city, an incident that sparked worldwide protests and brought heightened sensitivity to race-related issues in law enforcement.
