Farmington police shoot and kill man after responding to wrong home

[MechAg94]

FARMINGTON, N.M. — Farmington police shoot and kill man after responding to wrong home
https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/nmsp-farmington-police-shoot-and-kill-homeowner-after-responding-to-wrong-location/

As officers backed away from the door, the homeowner approached the door, armed with a handgun. Police identified the homeowner as 52-year-old Robert Dotson.

“At this point in the encounter, officer(s) fired at least one round from their duty weapon(s), striking Mr. Dotson,” NMSP spokesman Ray Wilson wrote in a news release.

After the initial shooting, Dotson’s wife – who was also armed – opened fire from the doorway of the home. Once again, police shot back.

I appears the only one injured was the homeowner.  It is unclear to me if they saw him approaching the door or he went outside with the gun.  Hopefully more information will be forthcoming.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k1IUe2Ucls
On this interview, the police chief seems to indicate the guy came out of the house armed. 

[Hawkmoon]

On this interview, the police chief seems to indicate the guy came out of the house armed.

Which, unfortunately for him, HE HAD EVERY RIGHT TO DO.

When are we going to require a literacy test for police officers? This is the second wrong address police shooting within the past week.

[dogmush]

We really need to adjust qualified immunity.

These officers killed someone while illegally trespassing.  Doesn't Texas have a felony murder statute, where if someone is killed while committing a felony everyone involved with the crime can be charged with the murder?  Pretty sure it does have that statute, and equally sure it won't be used.

[HankB]

^^^^^^^^  This.

[MechAg94]

We really need to adjust qualified immunity.

These officers killed someone while illegally trespassing.  Doesn't Texas have a felony murder statute, where if someone is killed while committing a felony everyone involved with the crime can be charged with the murder?  Pretty sure it does have that statute, and equally sure it won't be used.

Not sure about the law in Texas, but this was New Mexico. 

That would also take a local prosecutor willing to prosecute that case.

[dogmush]

Not sure about the law in Texas, but this was New Mexico. 

That would also take a local prosecutor willing to prosecute that case.

Sorry, misread the article I saw this morning.  Question still stands though.

[MechAg94]

You still need a prosecutor willing to prosecute the cops.  Not all of them will be willing to do it. 

[dogmush]

You still need a prosecutor willing to prosecute the cops.  Not all of them will be willing to do it.

Hence:

  Pretty sure it does have that statute, and equally sure it won't be used.

[Boomhauer]

I’ve had EMS show up at my house, wrong address, and almost barge in when I opened the door.

That incident and these incidents in various states have pretty much resigned me to a communicate only through the ring doorbell and not open the door. The absolute retards and rejects that my town employs as LE also inspires no confidence as to not *expletive deleted*ing up like this.

[zxcvbob]

It is unfortunate that none of the officers were killed.

[Hawkmoon]

It is unfortunate that none of the officers were killed.

But they all went home at the end of their shift ...

Youse gotta prollem wit dat?

[zxcvbob]

But they all went home at the end of their shift ...

Youse gotta prollem wit dat?

In this and similar cases, yes I do.  They were in no real danger from the homeowners (unless the wife had grenades we don't know about), but maybe they could have shot each other or something. 

[Hawkmoon]

In this and similar cases, yes I do.  They were in no real danger from the homeowners (unless the wife had grenades we don't know about), but maybe they could have shot each other or something.

In case you missed it, I was attempting to be facetious.

I decry the abuse of police "dynamic entries" and the "accidental" killing of innocent people for reasons as simple as that some police officers can't read an address correctly, and other police officers can't write an address correctly. I'm sorry, thin blue line, but that's a bug, not a feature.

[zxcvbob]

In case you missed it, I was attempting to be facetious.

I was almost certain you were.  Just making clear that I was not.  Someone screws up that bad, he kinda deserve to die, if for no other reason than as a cautionary tale to others.

[Boomhauer]

I was almost certain you were.  Just making clear that I was not.  Someone screws up that bad, he kinda deserve to die, if for no other reason than as a cautionary tale to others.

“If you can’t be a good example then you’ll have to be a horrible warning”

[dogmush]

They released the bodycam video:

https://twitter.com/CitizenFreePres/status/1647592395456823296?s=20

I notice they had a WML on the door before the screen door opened and the homeowner presented his gun, so I suspect he had no idea who was in his yard.

Sounds like the wife was in suppressive fire mode when she started shooting.

[Ben]

They released the bodycam video:

https://twitter.com/CitizenFreePres/status/1647592395456823296?s=20

I notice they had a WML on the door before the screen door opened and the homeowner presented his gun, so I suspect he had no idea who was in his yard.

Sounds like the wife was in suppressive fire mode when she started shooting.

It is sad to see the number of comments at that link that said the homeowner had it coming.

[MechAg94]

I wonder what the lumens/candela were on those lights they had on the door.  He couldn't see anything but the lights.   On top of that, the cops fired almost immediately so there was no time to respond or put the gun down. 

All I can figure is he should have stayed inside.  At least close the door back up once he saw that he couldn't see who was out there.