Overview
- Davis Moturi was shot while trimming a tree in October 2024 and the lawsuit charges neighbor John Sawchak with firing the shot that the complaint says caused severe and lasting injury.
- The Moturis filed the June 2026 civil suit against Sawchak, the couple who sold them the house, the City of Minneapolis and former Chief Brian O’Hara seeking medical and wage damages.
- Plaintiffs say the prior owners answered "No" on a mandatory seller disclosure about problems that would affect use and enjoyment of the property and that those alleged omissions hid prior threats and a 2023 restraining order.
- The suit accuses the Minneapolis Police Department of failing to serve arrest warrants and of systemic lapses that an April 2026 independent city audit documented, including no automatic flag for repeat callers and inconsistent reporting on weapons and bias.
- Because the criminal case is paused after a judge found Sawchak incompetent to proceed, the civil action could decide whether neighbor disputes must be treated as material facts in Minnesota real estate law and could spur changes to police practice and seller disclosure rules.