NMSP: Farmington police shoot and kill man after responding to wrong home

Authored by kob.com and submitted by lotusbloom74
image for NMSP: Farmington police shoot and kill man after responding to wrong home

FARMINGTON, N.M. — At around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, the Farmington Police Department was dispatched to a domestic violence call on Valley View Avenue.

According to New Mexico State Police, Farmington police officers mistakenly approached the wrong house. Officers reportedly knocked on the front door and announced they were police. When no one answered, officers asked dispatch to call the reporting party back and have them come to the front door.

As officers backed away from the door, the homeowner approached the door, armed with a handgun. Police identified the homeowner as 52-year-old Robert Dotson.

“At this point in the encounter, officer(s) fired at least one round from their duty weapon(s), striking Mr. Dotson,” NMSP spokesman Ray Wilson wrote in a news release.

After the initial shooting, Dotson’s wife – who was also armed – opened fire from the doorway of the home. Once again, police shot back.

“Once she realized that the individuals outside the residence were officers, she put the gun down and complied with the officer’s commands,” Wilson wrote.

Dotson was pronounced dead at the scene. His wife was uninjured.

New Mexico State Police said the Farmington police officers were not injured and will not be identified at this time.

Body camera video of the police response is expected to be released in the coming days.

This is a developing story. Stay with KOB 4 Eyewitness News and KOB.com for updates.

OCD_Stank on April 7th, 2023 at 10:18 UTC »

So, the police shot and killed Robert at about 11:30 PM and neighbors say it wasn't until 3:00 AM that an ambulance arrived. Why?

Yousoggyyojimbo on April 7th, 2023 at 06:32 UTC »

One of my first interactions with a police officer was when I was 11 years old and two officers pushed their way into my house when they had the wrong address.

I was home alone, and in less than a minute from barging their way in I had a cop making me follow outlandish physical orders with a gun pointed at me.

Stick your arms out in front of you. Palms up. Keep them there. Don't move. Don't fucking move. Keep those palms UP.

I was ELEVEN. Just a little fat kid playing final fantasy 7 in a superman t shirt.

When they figured out they were at the wrong address, they just left. Couldn't even bother to give me an apology. Oh, hey, sorry we scared the shit out of you and waved a gun in your face for no reason lol bye.

Bokbreath on April 7th, 2023 at 05:28 UTC »

Police kill man exercising 2nd amendment right to have a gun in his home. TFTFY