New Mexico police reportedly respond to wrong house and fatally shoot homeowner
04/07/2023 1:09 pm PDT
FARMINGTON, N.M. (TCD) -- Farmington Police reportedly arrived at the wrong address and fatally shot a homeowner this week.
According to a news release from the New Mexico Department of Public Safety, on Wednesday, April 5, at approximately 11:30 p.m., officers received a domestic violence call from 5308 Valley View Ave., but instead, they mistakenly responded to 5305 Valley View Ave. Officers reportedly made several attempts to contact the residents inside.
In a video statement, Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe said as officers were verifying the address, the homeowner, Robert Dotson, went to the front door armed with a handgun. Police then reportedly fired and hit Dotson.
According to the Department of Public Safety, Dotson’s wife was also armed with a handgun and fired at police from the doorway after the initial shooting, but she soon noticed they were officers and put her weapon down.
The Office of the Medical Investigator pronounced Dotson dead at the scene. His wife was unharmed, and she has not been charged.
Hebbe said the case is under investigation by the New Mexico State Police. He called the shooting an "extremely traumatic event." He also said he’s "heartbroken by the circumstances," and it’s "unbelievably tragic."
According to Hebbe, body camera footage will be released in the coming days. Police officers involved with the shooting were unharmed, and their names have not been released.
The Associated Press reports that the officers involved were placed on paid administrative leave as the investigation continues.
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