Local News

The families of the three women killed in Monday's shooting in Farmington have shared information about their lives.  We are happy to share this information about these important members of the Farmington community who were taken in this senseless act:

Rocky Reach Landing, Berg East, Archway Court along with the area around the Red Barn and Nature center are closed for Riverfest. 

Suspect Beau Wilson was found to have been wearing a bulletproof vest at the onset of the event, providing him with additional protection. However, prior to his encounter with Farmington Police officers, he deliberately removed the vest.  There was also a note found on Beau’s body. 

The neighborhood of Dustin Avenue between Ute and Apache was locked down for several hours as the incident unfolded around 11am.  Hospital officials say the facility also went into lockdown and established an Incident Command Center.  The hospital worked closely with law enforcement to ensure the safety of their patients and caregivers. The neighborhood lockdown was lifted shortly before 2pm.

The most immediate change visitors will see is the closure of the front (East) entrance off College Boulevard and the two front parking lots in front of the Learning Commons (A) and Henderson Fine Arts Center (B).  Those closures will begin Monday, May 15, 2023.

At this time, the death does not appear suspicious. The Office of the Medical Investigator will be working with detectives to determine a cause of death.

Attorney Luis Robles recounts that after the officers knocked on the Dotson's front door three times and announced their presence, they "waited calmly for someone to answer the door, but the longer they waited, the more concerned they became. Before taking further action, Officer Wasson contacted dispatch to verify the address of the calling party. Then, Officer Wasson heard the distinctive sound of someone inside the house rack a firearm. Fearing that this person was preparing to shoot at them, all three officers quickly backed away from the porch. 

Attorney Shon Northam says he will make a request for San Juan District Attorney Robert Tedrow and New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez to bring criminal charges of 2nd Degree Murder against the officers involved in the case. A second attorney hired by the family, Mark Reichel, is requesting the United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico to bring federal charges against the officers involved for federal civil rights violations.

All of the people are unrelated, occurring in different locations in the Four Corners region. One person died from the virus. The four surviving patients all required hospitalization, including time in intensive care units, before being able to return home.   HPS is a severe respiratory illness is caused by the Sin Nombre virus. In New Mexico, deer mice are the main carriers of Hantavirus. The virus is found in mice droppings and urine. 

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The family of Mr. Robert Dotson, accompanied by their attorney, reviewed the video footage at the San Juan County District Attorney’s Office prior to its public release. The Farmington Police Department continues to offer its sincere condolences to the family during this difficult time.  As with all officer-involved shootings, the investigation is being conducted by an outside agency. The investigation is being led by the New Mexico State Police and remains active and ongoing. The Farmington Police Department is cooperating fully with the State Police as the investigation continues.

For the San Juan Symphony community in Farmington, the merger signals the expansion of opportunities into San Juan County as well, with new concerts and education programs planned to expand into Farmington. “This is an exciting time for the Symphony,” notes Chandra Stubbs, Executive Director. “ We are thrilled to be able to expand our repertoire, utilize the legacy of 3rd Ave. Arts, and create a powerful and lasting impact on the arts in our communities.

When deputies arrived on scene, it was apparent that the two decedents died as a result of a homicide. The decedents are identified as Anthony McCants (26) and Candrick Begay (31).

Farmington's Citizens Bank has announced plans to build a new headquarters building on the bank's current property in downtown Farmington. The new building will be constructed on the northwest corner of the bank's property at the intersection of West Main Street and Auburn Avenue.  A groundbreaking is expected ate this summer, with construction expected to take between 15-18 months.