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Video shows U.S. police kill man after responding to wrong address
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In this image taken from body camera video provided by the Farmington Police Department, a police officer knocks on the door of the wrong address in response to a domestic violence call, in Farmington, New Mexico, U.S., April 5, 2023. /AP
In this image taken from body camera video provided by the Farmington Police Department, a police officer knocks on the door of the wrong address in response to a domestic violence call, in Farmington, New Mexico, U.S., April 5, 2023. /AP

In this image taken from body camera video provided by the Farmington Police Department, a police officer knocks on the door of the wrong address in response to a domestic violence call, in Farmington, New Mexico, U.S., April 5, 2023. /AP

New Mexico police officers realized they were at the wrong address just moments before the front door opened and they fatally shot the armed homeowner, then exchanged gunfire with his wife, according to newly released body camera video of the April 5 shooting.

Robert Dotson, 52, was killed by police in Farmington, New Mexico, on April 5, after officers responding to a domestic violence report arrived at the wrong house.

The Farmington Police Department released several videos on Friday, including footage captured by body cameras worn by the three officers who fired their weapons.

"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," Police Chief Steven Hebbe said in a statement accompanying the release.

An attorney representing the Dotson family could not be reached for comment on Saturday.

The video shows one officer knocking on a door decorated with an Easter bunny three times and announcing that police are present in the span of about 1-1/2 minutes. While they wait, two officers discuss whether they have the correct address and chuckle when they realize a mistake has been made.

One officer then curses and backs away, seconds before the door opens. An officer yells, "Hands up!," and the video shows Dotson raising what appears to be a handgun before officers open fire, dropping him in the doorway.

Dotson's wife can soon be heard screaming "Oh my God!" One officer mutters, "Please don't," before another volley of shots take place. Authorities have said she fired in the direction of officers, who returned fire without striking her.

Dotson's wife, who did not realize she was firing at police, has not been charged with a crime, authorities said. Three children were upstairs at the time of the shooting, according to the released video.

Police have not released the names of the involved officers, who have been placed on paid leave while the state police investigate the incident.

There were an estimated 44,000 gun-related deaths in the United States last year, about half of them were murder cases, accidents and self-defense, and half of them suicides, according to the Gun Violence Archive database.

It showed that 14 people have been shot or killed in what the archive terms "officer-involved incidents" in New Mexico this year.

More than 5,000 people in the United States have died of firearm-related violence in 2023, according to the archive.

(With input from agencies)

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