Robert Dotson, 52, was shot and killed by officers who arrived at the wrong address in April 2023.

Authorities in New Mexico will not seek charges against three police officers involved in a fatal shooting after arriving at the wrong house last year.

Officers in the town of Farmington fired dozens of shots and killed Robert Dotson, 52, because he appeared at the door of his home holding a gun.

At the time, the officers were responding to a domestic violence call from a house across the street.

The Dotson family filed a lawsuit against the department last year.

According to a complaint filed by the family in court, police arrived at the Dotson residence late on 5 April, 2023 and “parked down the street and did not have their lights on”.

When Mr Dotson opened his front door holding a weapon, police immediately opened fire, striking him 12 times. Another 19 shots were fired at his wife Kimberly, who was unharmed during the incident. Police later said she opened fire on officers with a pistol.

  • helenslunch@feddit.nl
    36·
    10 months ago

    Having a gun on your person while opening the door is not brandishing.

    Yes it is.

    there are countless other examples of people getting shot by the police simply for possessing a weapon.

    I’m referring to the incident in the OP.

    There is also zero reason to believe that this man was aware the people at his house were police.

    I mean there’s 1 reason: they were police. If the man failed to investigate before opening the door while brandishing a firearm, that’s on him.

    But as I’ve already stated, it doesn’t matter if he knew or not, really.

    • Drusas@kbin.social
      41·
      10 months ago

      You should look up the definition of brandishing because you are incorrect.

      Who the fuck “investigates” before opening their door? Basically nobody aside from looking out a peephole.

      • helenslunch@feddit.nl
        23·
        10 months ago

        You should look up the definition of brandishing because you are incorrect.

        Who the fuck “investigates” before opening their door?

        Any sensible person, but especially people who open doors WITH FUCKING GUNS IN THEIR FUCKING HANDS.

        • Drusas@kbin.social
          21·
          10 months ago

          Having a gun in your hand is not brandishing. You have to wave or aim it in a threatening manner for it to be brandishing.

          • helenslunch@feddit.nl
            21·
            10 months ago

            You do not have to wave or aim it in a threatening manner for it to be brandishing. It doesn’t even have to be in your hand. Stop looking up legal definitions on Merriam Webster.

            The term “brandish” means, with respect to a firearm, to display all or part of the firearm, or otherwise make the presence of the firearm known to another person, in order to intimidate that person, regardless of whether the firearm is directly visible to that person. 18 U.S.C. § 924©(4).

            • Drusas@kbin.social
              21·
              10 months ago

              ‘in order to intimidate that person’

              This case does not include that.

              • helenslunch@feddit.nl
                22·
                10 months ago

                Oh my God, is there no end to the mental gymnastics? What do you think someone’s intention is when they open the door with a gun in their hand? Were they using it as a fucking door handle?

                Seriously dude, it’s okay to be wrong sometimes. Just give it up.

                • Drusas@kbin.social
                  1·
                  10 months ago

                  That’s funny since it’s what I think of you and your argument.

                  It’s okay to disagree sometimes, dude. Figure it out and let it go.