VIDEO: Body cam shows New Mexico police shoot man after responding to wrong address

Authorities released body camera footage showing New Mexico police officers responding to a domestic violence call at the wrong address and killing the homeowner.

The video of the incident, which took place on April 5 at around 11:30 p.m., was released by the Farmington Police Department. It shows the officers arriving at the home and walking up to the front door. They knocked on the door and announced themselves. 

When no one answered the door, they proceeded to knock two more times before asking a dispatcher to confirm the address. The dispatcher then gives the address of a home across the street. 

Suddenly, the homeowner, later identified as 52-year-old Robert Dotson, opens the door armed with a handgun. At this point, the police officers shoot multiple rounds at the man before he falls to the ground. 

Around a minute after, a woman is heard screaming, followed by more shots. Dotson’s wife, without knowing who was outside, fired shots from the doorway.

At the same time, Dotson’s daughter called 911, saying that there was a shooting taking place in her house and that her dad was injured. 

"There were gunshots in the house and my dad is dead," she told 911 dispatchers.

The chaos ended about four minutes later when more officers arrived. The wife was placed in handcuffs and taken away from the home. 

It is unclear why police approached the wrong house, Farmington police said. The police somehow failed to notice the address that was posted on the home, despite it being illuminated brightly by an exterior light.  

Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe said that the department was releasing the video in an effort to be transparent about the situation. The video was reviewed by the victim’s family and their attorney before its release. 

"It starts with us not getting off to a good start and making a mistake and going to the wrong address," Hebbe said. "But it ends, honestly, with something you just don't see very often, with Mr. Dodson coming out with a gun and then pointing it at the officers."