"I was too young to have a child, and he was too young to be married. But Bella was murdered, and Darian Simon nearly murdered almost one year ago. Close sat with his head bowed and cried while the verdict was read. Isabella Thallas, 21, and Darian Simon were walking their dog near Coors Field in the Ballpark neighborhood when Michael Close, 36, started yelling at the couple from inside . Isabella Thallas in 2017. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { By Jacob Factor | jfactor@denverpost.com | The Denver Post. She's gone. Trujillo testified that Thompson said Close was not mentally stable and had not been the entire time she knew him. She said he had a personality disorder but wasnt being treated for it and he had a history of drug abuse. Denver police say Close faces a first-degree murder charge as well as an aggravated assault charge. (Image via Denver Police Department) Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, who was killed in a shooting while walking her dog. window.adsContainer = {"positionAfterTitle":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle5_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position2":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_After_Title_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position3":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Below_Next_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position4":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position5":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle1_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position6":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle2_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position7":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle3_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position8":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle4_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position9":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle5_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position10":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle6_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position11":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle7_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position12":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle8_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position13":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle9_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position14":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle10_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position15":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle11_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position16":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle12_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"positionTop":{"code":"Article_Desktop_970x250_Header_Rel","isOrganicUserAd":false,"max_width":970,"max_height":250},"positionBottom":{"code":"Article_Desktop_Sidebar_Bottom_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":300,"max_height":600},"positionBottomRight":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_After_Title_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":336,"max_height":280}} The incident dates to June 10, 2020. 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. 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 want to encourage people to come and just remember such a beautiful young lady," Rahn said. Loved ones are mourning after an East High School student died from being shot. A dispute over dog poop turned fatal earlier this year when Michael Close fired 24 shots from a semi-automatic rifle at Isabella Thallas and her boyfriend Darian Simon, prosecutors said. The dog was unharmed. He ran from the scene until he collapsed not far away. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), A jury in September deliberated for less than a day when it found Close guilty of first-degree murder with extreme indifference, two counts of attempt to commit first-degree murder and two counts of first-degree assault. Close was also ordered to pay more than $37,000 in restitution. > Below, an extended interview with Ana Thallas: Isabella was learning about finance at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Her boyfriend, Darian Simon, survived with a shattered femur. (Close's) family is broke, believe or or not. This story contains previous reporting by Janet Oravetz. Craig Silverman and Joshua Maximon, the attorneys for Simon and Joshua Thallas, respectively, provided the following statement on behalf of their clients: Today is the 22nd birthday of Isabella Joy Thallas. Prosecutors said Close then shouted to the couple, "Are you going to just yell at that dog or train it?". This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. let gads_event; "I would say 'Mija, you're only 20. The . media-tech companies with hubs around the world. Police were dispatched to 3001 North Fox Street in the Ballpark neighborhood of Denver after receiving multiple reports of shots fired at 11:40 a.m. on June 10, 2020, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Oxygen.com. "You find yourself in the grocery store, and you just look around, and you don't know why you're there. A Denver judge on Friday sentenced Michael Close to life in prison without the possibility of parole. "The Lord called her home and she is resting in peace with Him.". Her boyfriend, Darian Simon, was shot twice but is expected to survive. He faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison. 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. Close yelled out the window at the couple as they urged the pup to go potty.. There's a permanent memorial in the Ballpark neighborhood where she died. She also said work was ongoing to renovate the park that her daughters mural is watching over, and she is working with the city to rename the park. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { Politica was the owner/operator of Tyrant Arms, LLC. Thallas mom, Ana Thallas, said her daughter was kind and humble: It didnt matter who you were or what you were. Example video title will go here for this video. Close also was ordered to pay $37,000 in restitution. The family also wore clothing from the company at the vigil. Not for the "stupid price" of $150 an acre foot. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. A Detour mural at Leon Gallery honors Isabella Thallas, who was murdered June 10 while walking her dog. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The bill, which Isabella Thallas mother, Ana Hernandez Thallas, lobbied for, requires gun owners to report stolen firearms to law enforcement. Denver Police said an AR-15 and a handgun were found in the passenger-side floorboard of the Mercedes SUV he was driving at the time, as well as a gun belt and firearm magazines. Thallas was hit in the back and died instantly; Simon was shot twice. Close began to yell from his window about the dog. Unknowingly, they were right outside Close's apartment. "It inspires an act of kindness around yourself, around others," Simon said of the brand last fall to CBS4. "I am delighted that we were able to get justice for Isabella Thallas and Darian Simon," said Denver DA Beth McCann. Thursday marked one year since Thallas was killed. We begged her to stay home, and she chose love.". Rahn created a GoFundMe account to help the family. ", "As time passes, sometimes you find yourself driving down the street, and you don't know where you're going," she said. She still waits to hear her daughter Isabella's car pull up to their Denver home, to walk in the door and to sleep in her room. According to the Denver Post, Michael Close had earlier pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity but the jury on Thursday, September 22 convicted him for the crime. By Associated Press. DENVER (CBS4) - Isabella Thallas was shot and killed in Denver's Ballpark neighborhood on Wednesday, her family confirmed. ", "A random person shoots her for no reason 24 times," Ana said. Who makes the best hot chicken sandwich in Denver? Home; News. Isabella Thallas. }); Denver police homicide Detective Joseph Trujillo testified at the hearing that Close used a high-powered semi-automatic rifle in the shooting, which he said came after Simons dog pooped in a rock garden outside Closes apartment building in the Ballpark neighborhood at around 11:40 a.m., KDVR reported from the hearing. At the trial in September, prosecutors described the murder as a "rage-motivated mission for respect." The Denver man who fatally shot a woman and wounded a man near Coors Field because he was angry about how they were speaking to their dog has a history of untreated . Isabella Thallas died in the shooting, and Simon was shot twice but survived, though he had to undergo surgery to repair a broken femur. East High student Luis Garcia was leaving . A sheriffs deputy handcuffed him after the jury left the courtroom. Another friend told detectives that Close messaged him after the fatal shooting and wrote, Dude, I f***** up really f****** bad, theres no going back from this now, KDVR reported. Isabella told her mom that she had outgrown Denver and wanted to live in New York or Europe. His arraignment is set for January 4, public records show. Develop Close pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity in the shooting June 10, 2020, in the Ballpark District, when he used an AK-47 to fire two dozen rounds at Thallas and Simon from an apartment window in the 2900 block of Huron Street. Close pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity in March. "We asked that you kindly respect our privacy and Isabella's life by keeping this positive and loving," Ana Thallas wrote. },false) 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. Thallas was struck in the back and died at the scene just two days after celebrating her birthday. About a month after Isabella and Darian moved into together, they took that fateful morning walk. He and the co-owner of the company spoke to CBS4 last fall on Small Business Saturday. Please enter valid email address to continue. She said he was crying and mumbled that hed just shot and killed two people, KDVR reported. DENVER A man accused of using an AK-47 to kill a woman and wound her boyfriend as they walked their dog was . }); 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. 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