Upon arrival, authorities found Thallas dead and Simon suffering from gunshot wounds to his legs. Loved ones are mourning after an East High School student died from being shot. "One of our last conversations, I texted her and I apologized to her for the divorce between me and my ex-husband," Ana said. "It's hard to let go," Ana said. MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of He entered the plea in Denver District Court on Monday, March 8. A candlelight vigil was held in her honor Thursday evening, and Thallas's mother, Ana Hernandez Thallas, spoke with Anne Trujillo in an exclusive interview. According to prosecutors, when Simon responded, "Mind your own business, Rocko is a good dog," Close grabbed an assault-style rifle and fired more than 20 shots, hitting and killing Thallas and seriously wounding Simon. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Deliberations then started over at about 11:15 a.m Thursday and ended around 2 p.m. And our lives were changed forever.. Isabella Thallas in 2017. DENVER ( KDVR) The 16-year-old who was shot while sitting in his car near East High School on Feb. 14 has died, according to the family spokesperson. Denver DA Beth McCann said in a prepared statement that she was delighted that her office was able to get justice for the victims. Michael Close is in custody for investigation of first-degree murder in connection with the June 10 murder of 21-year-old Isabella Thallas and the shooting of Darian Simon, the founder of the . Thallas was killed almost instantly, prosecutors said. Twitter Michael Close, 36, is accused of shooting 21-year-old Isabella Thallas and her boyfriend, 27-year-old Darian Simon, outside an apartment complex in the Ballpark neighborhood in June 2020. Close then grabbed the AK-47, which he had taken from a friend who was a Denver police sergeant, and fired 24 shots. Close will pay for what hes done by spending his life in prison," said Judge Lisa C. Arnolds at the sentencing. Close first yelled out his window at the couple as they urged their dog to go potty, then went to another room, retrieved an AK-47 hed taken from a friend who was a Denver police sergeant, returned to the window and began shooting. Design The final determination on charges will be made by the Denver District Attorney's Office. Isabella Thallas murder: Denver man who shot dead 21-year-old woman over dog poop is found guilty, Man tapes dog poop to his wall with threatening note for person who let their pet take a dump in his garden. In April, Gov. Simon was shot twice but survived. 201 W, Colfax Ave, Dept. She said Thallas had just turned 21 days before she was killed. Thallas, 21, was killed last year by a gunman who used an AK-47 owned by a police officer. media-tech companies with hubs around the world. Judge Lisa Teesch-Maguire ordered that Close, 36, continue to be held at Denvers downtown detention center without bond. Because I know she's happy.". Thank you to the family and friends of Isabella Thallas for allowing me the honor of painting your loved one. Michael Close, 38, knew what he was doing when he killed Isabella Thallas, 21, and twice shot her boyfriend, Darian Simon, on June 10, 2020, as they encouraged their dog to defecate outside Closes apartment near Coors Field, the jury concluded. "We asked that you kindly respect our privacy and Isabella's life by keeping this positive and loving," Ana Thallas wrote. I felt it as a mom," Ana said. eventAction: 'render' He was stopped and arrested that evening on Highway 285 in Jefferson County. Close began to yell from his window about the dog. They also found a large amount of ammunition and high-capacity magazines that can hold more than 15 bullets, which are not legal in Colorado unless theyre grandfathered in. The semi-automatic rifle used in the shooting belonged to a now-former Denver police sergeant, who said Close stole it without his knowledge. Thallas mother Anna Thallas after Close got convicted of murder, said, Weve been waiting two and a half years for this day and what happened in there just went by almost as fast as my daughter was slaughtered. Being completely emotional, she continued, And our lives were changed forever. Anna later tweeted that hearing the handcuffs click was music to my ears.Isabella Thallas father, Joshua Thallas, told reporters outside the courtroom that there is no justice in this compared to the amount of loss caused by Closes poor choices. Sonja Prins, who is Closes public defender, stated that he had suffered a mental breakdown. eventAction: 'click_image_ads' ", "A random person shoots her for no reason 24 times," Ana said. ga('ads.send', { Neighborhood surveillance video then showed Close opening his blinds and pointing a high-powered rifle at the couple as Simon bent down to pick up his dogs feces. The three Denver police officers involved in last month's downtown shooting that left six bystanders injured have all worked for the agency for three years or fewer, Axios Denver has learned.. What's new: Officers Meagan Lieberson, Brandon Ramos and Kenneth Rowland joined the force in 2019, and had never previously fired their weapons in the line of duty, Denver's safety department . She said hed taken off because he was afraid to turn himself in. Darian Simon and Isabella Thallas (courtesy: Ana Thallas). North Dakota ranks sixth in the Summit with 11.7 assists per game led by . The two sisters' birthdays were only days apart. ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); The shooting happened outside an apartment complex in the Ballpark neighborhood of Denver on June 10, 2020. Trujillo told the court that the text said that Closes dog, Bella, was attacked by two dogs, and that he had full intentions of going back and murdering them., Trujillo later said that 10 minutes after the text, Close followed up with a call and voicemail to Politica where he said something along the lines of dude, Dan, I really f---ed up bad. The Most Interesting Articles, Mysteries and Discoveries. Isabella Thallas father, Joshua Thallas, said the guilty verdict did not feel like a win. ", "As time passes, sometimes you find yourself driving down the street, and you don't know where you're going," she said. He must now undergo a court-ordered examination; afterwards, experts will determine whether or not he is qualified for an . "We were kids having kids and trying to make life happen," Ana said. Thallas and Simon were walking their dog when Close began a verbal exchange with them over a command they used to have their dog defecate. In 4 years, Lori Lightfoot went from breakout political star to divisive mayor of a Chicago beset by pandemic and crime, Florida lawmakers to consider expansion of so-called dont say gay law, Drone crashes at Disneyland after hovering over visitors heads See video, Rapper Travis Scott wanted for assaulting Manhattan club sound engineer, destroying $12K in equipment, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. The outlet also reported that surveillance video was shown during Closes hearing and it showed Close pointing the gun at the couple and firing 24 rounds at them. "No, I never will," she said when asked whether she felt a sense of closure. The alleged shooter, Michael Close . At the trial in September, prosecutors described the murder as a "rage-motivated mission for respect." She added that the man had an abusive childhood, a string of job losses, a breakup, and the Covid pandemic contributed to his poor mental health at the time of the shooting. A Denver gang member gave a 14-year-old boy permission to shoot at a woman with an . ga('ads.send', { Our family, obviously, Bellas friends lost, the community lost, even Closes family lost today because of his poor choices.. Example video title will go here for this video. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Thallas and her boyfriend, Darian Simon, were shot near 29th and Huron Street. The two victims were walking their dog at the time of the shooting, and Denver Police have said that Close was angry over their dog relieving itself. Moments later, Close can be seen firing 24 rounds at the couple, killing Thallas almost instantly. hitType: 'event', Prosecutors alleged that Close had gotten into a verbal exchange with Thallas and Simon as they were encouraging their dog, Rocko, to relieve itself in a rock garden outside Closes apartment on Huron Street near Coors Field on June 10, 2020. Close, as per Denver police homicide investigator Joseph Trujillo, yelled out of the window as the duo urged their pet to go potty saying, Are you going to train that f*****g dog or just yell at it?Close then grabbed his AK-47, which he reportedly had taken from a friend who was a Denver police sergeant, and fired 24 shots. Surface Studio vs iMac - Which Should You Pick? Michael Close, 38, knew . The brand became important to the Thallas family, Simon and Isabella took a photo with her siblings to support its message. document.querySelector("#ads").addEventListener('click',function(){ "Nothing will ever ease that pain. Close had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. You have a lot of life to live," Ana said. A Denver man charged with fatally shooting a woman and wounding her boyfriend during a confrontation over dog poop has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.. Michael R. Close, 37, entered the . Her daughter's killer was found guilty in September and will be sentenced on Friday. Friends shocked by the loss of Thallas hope the focus can remain on her life and the impact she had on others. On June 7, 2020, the family had a birthday party for Isabella, who was turning 21, and for her sister Lucia. It was around 11:40 a.m. and Thallas and Simon were walking their dog on Fox Street, near Coors Field. He and the co-owner of the company spoke to CBS4 last fall on Small Business Saturday. Twitter Isabella Thallas on the left and Michael Close in his booking photo on the right. document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ Updated by the minute, our Dallas Cowboys NFL Tracker: News and views and moves inside The Star and around the league . A sheriffs deputy handcuffed him after the jury left the courtroom. DENVER The father and boyfriend of 21-year-old Isabella Thallas, who was killed in a shooting while walking her dog in June 2020, have filed a lawsuit against the suspect and a former Denver police sergeant whose gun was used in the shooting. MEAWW is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. Weve been waiting 2 years for this day and what happened in there just went by almost as fast as my daughter was slaughtered, she said through tears, standing outside the courtroom. Both victims had disengaged from Close and were tending to their dog when Close began shooting. Denver man guilty in AK-47 killing of woman, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Get to know all 17 Denver mayor candidates , Denver man guilty in AK-47 killing of woman walking dog near Coors Field, Trial opens for Denver man who used AK-47 to kill woman walking dog near Coors Field, Denver man accused of murder in dog poop dispute claims insanity, Denver police officers AK-47 used in fatal shooting of young woman following dog poop argument, Suspect in homicide near Coors Field opened fire because of dispute over dog poop, police say, Colorado House passes first gun bill of the session, requiring lost or stolen guns to be reported within five days, Isabella Thallas father, boyfriend file wrongful death suit against alleged shooter, former Denver police sergeant, One Texas judge will decide fate of abortion pill used by millions of American women, Denver gang member gave 14-year-old permission to open fire on woman with AR-15 after fender-bender, DA alleges, Boulder King Soopers shooting suspect has schizophrenia, defense says, Colorado man sues after police use flash-bang near his head during SWAT-style traffic-stop, a friend who was a Denver police sergeant, Denver just got a direct flight to this Caribbean island known for music history and vegetarian cooking, Multiple Colorado schools temporarily placed under secure status due to threats, Denver East High student dies more than two weeks after being shot outside school, Letters: Proposed age limit for gun ownership in Colorado doesn't make sense. 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