Man Charged With Murder In Connection With Ballpark Shooting

DENVER, CO — A man has been charged with first-degree murder after a woman was shot and killed in the Ballpark neighborhood, Denver District Attorney Beth McCann announced Tuesday.

Michael Close, 36, faces multiple charges, including two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder and six counts of using a prohibited large-capacity magazine for a crime.

Close is accused of fatally shooting 21-year-old Isabella Thallas June 10 over a dispute about her dog relieving itself. Thallas' boyfriend, Darian Simon, was also shot, and he's expected to recover, police said.

A medical examiner’s autopsy report concluded that Thallas died from a gunshot wound and that the manner of death is homicide, the Denver DA announced Tuesday.

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Thallas and Simon were walking their dog at 3001 N. Fox Street, when the Simon told the dog to poop, according to the probable cause statement. He then heard someone yell at him from a ground-floor apartment, asking Simon if he "was going to train the dog or just yell at it," the document shows.

Simon told investigators that he tried to ignore the person who was yelling, but then saw what he believed was a pellet gun pointing at him, according to the probable cause statement.

Simon then heard "multiple gun shots" and ran away "until he couldn't run further due to the injury to his leg and buttocks," according to the document. Thallas was fatally shot. Their dog was not harmed in the shooting, the Denver DA confirmed.

Police were called to the area and blocked off roadways while they searched for a suspect.

Police then received reports that the suspect was heading into the mountains. Close was arrested around 1:30 p.m. near Mount Evans Boulevard and Highway 285, police said.

Later, investigators discovered the couple had been shot with an AR-15, police said. Detectives said they found a handgun, a pistol grip rifle, a gun belt and magazines inside Close's vehicle.

A GoFundMe account has been set up to pay for Thallas' memorial service.

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