Anti-police brutality activists interrupted a Minneapolis City Council meeting Thursday to call for Police Chief Brian O'Hara's firing, saying his department failed a Black man who begged police for help for months to no avail, until he was finally shot in the neck by his white neighbor.

John Sawchak, 54, is charged with shooting Davis Moturi, 34, even though two warrants had been issued for his arrest in connection with threats to Moturi and other neighbors.

Activists showed up at the council meeting and asked for time to talk about the case. Instead, the council recessed and activists took the podium and castigated the city for failing Black people, even as state and federal officials are forcing the police department into court-sanctioned monitoring because of past civil rights violations.

Nekima Levy Armstrong, founder of the Racial Justice Network, said O'Hara needs to be held accountable.

"This is not the first instance where the community has raised concerns about his poor judgment, poor leadership, blaming the community and excuses. It's completely unacceptable for him to get away with it," she said. "How many Black people's doors have they kicked in for less?"

On Thursday the council voted to request the city auditor review the city's involvement in and response to the matters between Moturi and Sawchak.

Jerry Holt, The Minnesota Star Tribune
A teary-eyed Nekima Levy Armstrong spoke to the Minneapolis City Council on Thursday. Armstrong voiced her concerns about MPD and Mayor Jacob Frey in failing to arrest John Sawchak sooner.

Mayor Jacob Frey released a statement in response saying he supports the council's call for an independent review of the case, but O'Hara "will continue to be the Minneapolis police chief."

Protesters also questioned why the public hadn't heard from Community Safety Commissioner Toddrick Barnette, who called a virtual news conference within hours to say he's not going to fire O'Hara and that city leadership supports him.

"The totality of his work in Minneapolis should be taken into consideration," he said.

Barnette said he understands calls for resignations given the city's history, but said the city is committed to an independent review which he believes will restore trust.