On Wednesday evening the Farmington, New Mexico Police Department responded to a call for a domestic violence incident. When officers arrived at the scene just before midnight, they went to the wrong address.
After knocking on the door of 5305 Valley View Avenue and informing the occupants that they were police officers, an exchange of gunfire led to a fatal outcome for one of the residents.
Body camera footage at the scene revealed the events that led up to the incident. As police moved away from the residence, homeowner Robert Dotson, 52, opened the screen door, carrying a handgun. It was at this point that officers fired at least one shot from their weapons, fatally wounding Mr. Dotson.
His wife had also come to the door armed with a handgun, but when she saw that it was police officers outside the house, she put the weapon away and complied with their orders.
Unfortunately, Mr. Dotson passed away at the scene. The other occupant of the residence was not hurt and was not charged with a crime. Officers involved in the shooting remained unscathed.
The New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau is assisting with further evidence gathering and interviews as they work to piece together what happened.