Before the shooting, John Sawchak had been terrorizing his neighbors in a south Minneapolis neighborhood for 15 years

Police encouraged her to continue reporting the incidents, but she said authorities never did anything once they arrived because Sawchak always retreated to his home. At times, police dismissed her claims, saying there was no evidence. An officer once told her, “Ma’am, if you don’t feel safe, it’s best for you to move.”

This finally happened – by borrowing money from her 401k account. in desperation to rent a much smaller apartment to the family.

“The system failed us,” she said by phone this week. The Star Tribune agreed not to identify her because she remains concerned for her safety. “We may already be dead.”

Pleasant Avenue neighbor Carole Megarry has shared the alley with Sawchak for more than 30 years. Their relationship soured almost a decade ago when Sawchak became irritated when her dog wandered around his yard or relieved himself in the adjacent parking lot.

“Any intrusion was frowned upon by him,” Megarry, 77, told the Star Tribune. From that point on, she made sure her dog stayed away from his property. But she said Sawchak soon began following her, criticizing her and videotaping her as she walked her dog outside, including one Easter morning. This prompted Megarry to file for protection in 2016.

She filed for a second restraining order two years ago when Sawchak became violent. As Meggary was walking her dog, Sawchak ran after her with a four-foot piece of wood and shouted, “Get the dog off my property!” according to court records. He threw it over her left shoulder, delivering a blow that knocked her to the ground and knocked off her glasses.