Denver Man Shoots And Kills Woman After Her Dog Poops Outside His Apartment

Michael Close is facing charges of first-degree murder as Denver police say he fired at least 24 shots killing 21-year-old Isabella Thallas on June 10 in the Ballpark neighborhood.

Close's preliminary hearing on Monday morning (November 16) resulted in Denver Judge Lisa Teesch-Maguire finding probable cause to bound Close over for trial.

Close is facing 15 different counts of crime for shooting 24 rounds at Thallas and her 27-year-old boyfriend Darian Simon, who survived two bullets to his legs.

Denver police homicide Detective Joseph Trujillo was the only witness to testify at the preliminary hearing, according to FOX31.

Trujillo informed the court that the shooting followed a short feud between Close and Simon after Simon's dog pooped in a rock garden outside of Close's apartment complex.

Neighborhood surveillance video presented in court by prosecutors showed Close opening his window and pointing a high powered semi-automatic rifle at the couple.

Close can then be seen firing 24 rounds, killing Thallus almost instantly.

Detective Trujillo told the court that when police arrived on the scene they found a woman named Chelsea Thompson who identified herself as Close's girlfriend.

Close called Thompson several minutes after the shooting to tell her what had happened before taking off towards the mountains in a black Mercedes SUV.

Police were able to find his location by pinging his cell phone and Close was arrested at Pine Junction by Jefferson County Sheriff's Deputies.

After the preliminary hearing, Close will continue to be held without bond and his arraignment is set for January 4, 2021.

Photo Courtesy of Denver Office of the District Attorney