Michael Close Receives Life Sentence for Ballpark-Area Shooting Incident

DENVER—Today, Denver District Court Judge Lisa C. Arnolds sentenced Michael Close to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of Isabella Thallas and to 48 years for the attempted murder of Darian Simon. The sentences are to run consecutively. Close was also ordered to pay more than $37,000 in restitution. On September 22, 2022, a Denver jury found Close guilty of murdering Isabella Thallas and attempting to murder Darian Simon when he shot them in Denver’s Ballpark-area on June 10, 2020.

Judge Arnolds said, “Mr. Close will pay for what he’s done by spending his life in prison.”

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. Both victims had disengaged from Close and were tending to their dog when Close began shooting. Numerous reports of shots being fired were received by Denver’s Combined Communications Center.

Close was found guilty of one count of first degree murder – after deliberation and one count of first degree murder – extreme indifference, two counts of attempt to commit first degree murder, and two counts of first degree assault. This is Denver District Court case number 20CR03585.

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