WATCH: Cops Go to Wrong House With Family Inside, Kill the Dad, Try to Kill the Mom
Farmington, NM — As we reported last week, in yet another tragic example of the dangerous consequences of police incompetence, Robert Dotson, 52, was gunned down in his own home by the very people who are sworn to protect and serve. Now, after killing an innocent man in his own home, police quietly released the body camera footage over the weekend.
The footage was captured by body cameras worn by the three officers who fired their weapons. The footage shows that officers knew they were at the wrong house before they began firing.
As the video shows, an officer knocks on the family's door adorned with an Easter bunny, announcing the police presence. As they stand there, a conversation ensues between two officers, questioning if they are at the correct address. They can't help but laugh when they discover their error.
However, the amusement is short-lived. The officer swears and retreats, just seconds before the door swings open. A panicked shout of "Hands up!" can be heard, and the video reveals Dotson raising what looks like a handgun. The officers, with no hesitation, open fire, striking Dotson as he stands in the doorway.
The chilling cries of Dotson's wife pierce the air as she screams, "Oh, my God!" As one officer mutters, "Please don't," another round of shots rings out. Authorities have confirmed that she had fired in the direction of the officers, who responded with gunfire, miraculously not hitting her.
Backing up the fact that the family had no idea it was actually cops at the door, Dotson's wife has not been charged with any crime. The released video also reveals that three children were upstairs during the horrifying incident.
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The names of the officers involved remain undisclosed, and they have been placed on paid leave while state police conduct an investigation into the tragic event.
“All of us – the men and women of the Farmington Police Department – recognize the severity of this incident,” Police Chief Steven Hebbe said in a statement.
“Once again, we wish to express our condolences to the Dotson family, and as your chief of police, I wish to convey how very sorry I am that this tragedy occurred,” Hebbe said.
As we originally reported, Farmington police officers responded to a domestic violence call on Valley View Avenue that night. However, in a colossal display of negligence, the officers showed up at the wrong house. Despite announcing their presence, the officers failed to do so loud enough to ensure Dotson knew they were police. Then, instead of attempting to de-escalate the situation, by backing up and getting out of the way, these supposed "peacekeepers" escalated tensions to a deadly level because they could.
Dotson was struck by at least one round in the chaos that ensued.
Though the Farmington police officers involved in this tragedy have not yet been identified, it is imperative that they be held accountable for their reckless actions.
