Police in New Mexico (United States) released images on Friday night showing officers shooting a man dead after responding to an emergency call but at the wrong address.
The Farmington Town Police Department released body camera video and audio of 911 officers involved in the incident on April 5, when three officers responded to a call but knocked on the wrong door. Officers were responding to a domestic violence call at 5308 Valley View Avenue, but footage shows them arriving at a home identified as 5305.
Department Chief Steve Hebbe ordered the release of the images under state law “and out of a desire to be forthcoming and transparent with the Farmington community, the general public and the media,” a statement from the Department said. institution.
The footage shows the officers knocking on the door several times and identifying themselves as such. They then requested confirmation of the dispatch address and argued among themselves about whether they were at the correct house. Moments later, a man opens the door and points a firearm at the officers before they draw and immediately fire their weapons.
The victim, Robert Dotson, died immediately at the scene, police said. A woman later identified as Dotson’s wife appears at the door about a minute later, and more shots are fired. According to the police officers, she also fired at them with a gun.
The department said the names of the three officers involved, who have been redacted from the footage and audio, could not be released due to the ongoing investigation. It’s unclear why the officers, who are on paid leave during the investigation, headed to the wrong address, authorities said.
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