A Denver man accused of gunning down a 21-year-old woman over a feud about dog feces reportedly fired off 24 shots from a semi-automatic rifle in the attack.
The revelations about 24-year-old suspect Michael Close’s alleged ambush that left Isabella Thallas dead and wounded her 27-year-old boyfriend, Darian Simon, were disclosed at the suspect’s preliminary court hearing Monday, KDVR reported.
Denver police homicide investigator Joseph Trujillo testified that authorities found six shell casings inside Close’s Ballpark neighborhood apartment, and 18 others outside his window.
Close is accused of firing from inside his apartment at Thallas and Simon, who were walking their dog.
Before opening fire, Close yelled at the couple after their dog pooped in a rock garden outside his apartment, according to Trujillo. “Are you going to train that f—ing dog or just yell at it?” Close reportedly yelled from his window.
After the June 10 shooting, Close fled in his car and was arrested by police later that day. He is charged with first-degree murder and over a dozen other counts, and was denied bond Monday, the report said.
The suspect’s girlfriend, Chelsea Thompson, told police that after the shooting, her boyfriend called her crying, admitting to opening fire on two people, Trujillo testified.
Close was also crying and apologizing when he was arrested, Trujillo said.
Thompson told police her boyfriend had recently been diagnosed with a personality disorder and battled substance abuse.