A Kenyan man was allegedly shot by his white neighbour while
pruning a tree in his yard in Minneapolis, United States.
According to police, Davis Moturi, was outside his home pruning a tree when he was shot in the neck by his neighbour identified as John Sawchak.
Minneapolis police characterised the act as attempted murder.
The shooting left Moturi with serious injuries including a fractured spine, two broken ribs, and a concussion.
Reports indicate that prior to the shooting incident, Moturi had reported Sawchak to the police more than 20 times for harassment.
Despite these numerous complaints, Minneapolis police allegedly failed to take appropriate action, resulting in widespread condemnation from the community and observers alike.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara acknowledged the department's shortcomings, admitting that they did not act with sufficient urgency to prevent the shooting.
“The Minneapolis police somehow did not act urgently enough to prevent that individual from being shot,” he said.
This has fuelled public outrage and concern about systemic issues within the police department.
After the shooting, there was a tense, hours-long standoff between police and Sawchak, who initially refused to surrender.
Neighbours have described him as being armed and dangerous, and also suffering from mental illness, yet they have also labelled him as racist, raising concerns about the potential motivations behind his actions.
From his hospital bed, Moturi expressed his frustrations over the police’s lack of response to his previous reports of harassment in an NBC news interview
“I don’t call the police for fun. I call because I want my family to be safe. It’s very sad that it had to come to this,” he remarked.
The Minneapolis police's handling of the case has been scrutinised within the broader context of policing in the wake of George Floyd's murder, which prompted global calls for police reform and greater accountability.
