Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe killed homeowner Robert Dotson while at wrong address – family intended to file a lawsuit

Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe killed homeowner Robert Dotson while at wrong address’ The family of Robert Dotson, who was shot and killed by police after they arrived at the wrong house, are reportedly filing a lawsuit against the department.

 

Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe killed homeowner Robert Dotson while at wrong address

Bodycam footage released by Farmington Police showed the harrowing moment officers fatally shot Dotson, 52, on April 5 after mistakenly approaching the wrong house to respond to a domestic violence call. Shortly after, the cops were also seen firing at Dotson’s screaming wife Kim. In the video, three officers could be seen knocking at the door of a house while discussing a potential confusion about arriving at the wrong address.

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‘This was a straight-up assassination’

Kim was flanked by family members at a press conference Thursday, April 20. “This horrific night that happened feels like a horrible nightmare,” she said, adding, “This careless act of not being at the right address has taken everything from this family. We want to ensure that this tragedy that has devastated our family does not ever happen again.” California attorney Shon Northam said, “This was a straight-up assassination of Robert Lee Dotson,” as quoted by Farmington Daily Times.

The family’s legal team revealed their intention to file a civil lawsuit in federal court and called for the firing or resignation of Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe. They also urged authorities to pursue criminal charges against the officers who shot Dotson.

 

The incident took place on April 5 in the New Mexico town of Farmington around 11.30 pm. Officers shot and killed Dotson in the doorway of his residence that night after arriving at the wrong house while responding to a domestic violence call. However, the narratives of the police and the family considerably diverge beyond the undisputed facts that officers shot and killed Dotson while at the wrong address. According to The Blaze, what transpired between the police knocking on the door and Dotson being shot “depends on who you ask and possibly, what video footage you are viewing.”

 

 

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Farmington Police vs the Dotsons

KOB-TV obtained letters from the legal teams for both sides, laying out an account of events as seen by both parties. The Dotson family’s legal team claimed that when Dotson answered the door with a gun, he was “holding the gun and not pointing it at the officers.” They also said that the gun was “clearly pointed down” when officers yelled “hey” and “heads.” On the other hand, attorneys for the police allege Dotson “pointed his gun directly at Officer Wasson.”

 

The Dotson family’s legal team said a noise that appeared to spook the officers was Dotson unlocking his door to answer it, after he came from upstairs where he was “likely asleep.” Lawyers for the police believe it was “the distinctive sound of someone inside the house rack[ing] a firearm.” According to the Dotson’s legal team, the responding officers screamed “hey” and “heads” when Dotson opened the door, while attorneys for the police say they announced three times that they were police as they knocked thrice on the door. They also say Dotson was ordered to put his hands up but he pointed his gun at the police instead.