New Mexico police responding to domestic violence call visit wrong address, fatally shoot resident inside

The New Mexico State Police released additional information Thursday on a deadly shooting that happened the day prior in Farmington after officers mistakenly responded to the wrong home and shot one of its occupants to death.

In a Thursday statement, the NMSP said an officer with the Farmington Police Department fatally shot the victim, identified as Robert Dotson, 52, after responding to a call for a domestic violence incident at around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Farmington police officers responded to the area but visited the wrong address.

"Once on scene, officers mistakenly approached 5305 Valley View Avenue instead of 5308 Valley View Avenue," the NMSP said. "Officers knocked on the front door of 5305 Valley View Avenue and announced themselves as Farmington police officers. When there was no answer at 5305, officers asked their dispatch to call the reporting party back and have them come to the front door."

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The addresses are located across the street from one another. Police said the occupants of 5305 Valley View Avenue opened the door armed and an exchange of gunfire ensued.

"Body camera footage shows as the officers backed away from 5305 Valley View Avenue, the homeowner, Robert Dotson, 52, opened the screen door armed with a handgun. At this point in the encounter, officer(s) fired at least one round from their duty weapon(s) striking Mr. Dotson," police said.

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The NMSP added: "After the initial shooting, Mr. Dotson’s wife, also armed with a handgun, fired from the doorway of the residence. Once again, officer(s) fired. Once she realized that the individuals outside the residence were officers, she put the gun down and complied with the officer’s commands."

Robert Dotson was pronounced deceased at the scene. The other occupant was uninjured and was not charged with a crime, police said.

The Farmington police officers were not injured.

The New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau is continuing to collect evidence and interviews as this incident remains under investigation.

Additional details may be released at a later time.

Israel launches rare airstrikes in Lebanon following violence at Jerusalem holy site

The Israeli military launched rare airstrikes into Lebanon early Friday morning, just hours after it struck opposition targets in the Gaza Strip. 

Both series of attacks were in retaliation after Palestinian militants in Gaza fired rockets into southern Israel. Later, another volley of rockets was fired from Lebanon into Northern Israel.

The rocket fire further escalated from initial violence at a Jerusalem holy site this week.

The Israeli military did not provide information about its intended targets in Lebanon but said it targeted tunnels and weapon sites in the Gaza Strip.

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A Lebanese TV station reported explosions in the southern port city of Tyre. The town is located about 20 miles from Israel’s northern border.

The Israeli military did not provide any further details.

The current round of violence began Wednesday during an incident at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City, where hundreds of worshipers gathered.

Israel’s police said agitators used rocks and fireworks, causing a disturbance at the site. They also barricaded themselves in the structure, police said.

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The Israeli officers raided the mosque and arrested more than 350 people. 

Some Palestinians disputed the series of events and said the police raid caused the current violence.

The Wednesday raid led to rocket fire from Gaza on Thursday. And, in a significant escalation, a barrage of nearly three dozen rockets was fired from Lebanon into northern Israel.

The fighting comes amid a backdrop of religious sensitivity for both Muslims and Jewish people as celebrations for the Passover holiday and the Ramadan holy month are underway. The exchange of blows also comes as a similar escalation in 2021 spilled over into an 11-day war between Israel and Hamas, a terrorist group that governs Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his Security Cabinet Thursday as the Israeli military struck four sites in Gaza belonging to Hamas.

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After the hours-long meeting, Netanyahu’s office released a statement suggesting attacks would be made.

"Israel’s response, tonight and beyond, will extract a heavy price from our enemies," Netanyahu said. He did not elaborate.

"The (Israeli Defense Forces) will not allow the Hamas terrorist organization to operate from within Lebanon and holds the state of Lebanon responsible for every directed fire emanating from its territory," the Israeli military said in a statement, Reuters reported.

The most recent airstrikes came after militants in Lebanon firing some 34 rockets into Israel, forcing air sirens across Israel’s northern frontier as people sought safety in bomb shelters. The attacks wounded at least two people.

Fox News' Paul Best and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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