Police tape.Photo: Getty
Police officers mistakenly shot and killed a man on Wednesday in New Mexico after responding to a domestic violence call at the wrong residence.
The deadly incident occurred at around 11:30 p.m. local time when the Farmington Police Department were called to the home and knocked on the door of 5305 Valley View Avenue instead of 5308 Valley View Avenue, according to a news release from theNew Mexico Department of Public Safety.
When officers received no answer, they called dispatch “to call the reporting party back and have them come to the front door.”
That’s when the homeowner, 52-year-old Robert Dotson, opened the screen door, armed with a handgun, police said.
“At this point in the encounter, officer(s) fired at least one round from their duty weapon(s) striking Mr. Dotson,” the news release stated.
Body camera footage then showed that Dotson’s wife appeared at the doorway and fired a handgun.
“Once she realized that the individuals outside the residence were officers, she put the gun down and complied with the officer’s commands,” per the release.
The Farmington Police Department did not identify the officers involved, but said they were not injured in the shooting.
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The New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau is now investigating the incident, and their findings will be shared with the district attorney for possible criminal charges, police said.
On Thursday, Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbereleased a video statementregarding the shooting.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at1-800-799-7233, or go tothehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
source: people.com
