A man who fired an AK-47 at a couple walking their dog when they encouraged it to "go potty" and killed a woman in the process has been jailed for life.
Isabella Thallas and Darian Simon had been walking their pet near their home when the tragedy happened.
Prosecutors said Michael Close got into a “verbal exchange” with the pair as they encouraged their dog to relieve itself.
Denver District Court heard Close yelled at the pair from inside his home before reaching for the weapon and firing 24 bullets.
He is said to have shouted: “Are you going to train that f****** dog or just yell at it?”
Simon responded: “Mind your own business; Rocko is a good dog.”
Seconds later Close fired the weapon at the pair, killing 21-year-old Isabella who was shot in the back and died instantly in the exchange and wounding her partner in his legs.
Close fled the scene but was arrested by the Park County Sheriff’s Office hours later.
Deputies found a gun belt and the rifle. inside his car.
Close had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity while his public defender claimed he had a mental break, an abusive childhood, a break-up and a number of lost jobs.
But jurors convicted him in September of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and two counts of first-degree assault.
During Friday’s proceedings Judge Lisa C. Arnolds sentenced Michael Close to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of Isabella Thallas.
He also received 48 years for the attempted murder of Darian Simon which will run consecutively.
Close was also ordered to pay $37,000 in restitution.
Judge Arnolds said, “Mr. Close will pay for what he’s done by spending his life in prison.”
Joshua Thallas, Isabella’s father, told KUSA: “There’s no winners in this.
“We go home after this, my family broke, still without my daughter.
“(Close’s) family is broke, believe or or not. He’ll go to jail, they’re without a son, a brother, so there’s no winners in this.”
