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Colorado Man Who Shot Woman Dead And Wounded Her Boyfriend Over Dog Poop Enters Insanity Plea
Michael June Close pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity after allegedly firing over 20 rounds at Isabella Thallas and her boyfriend Darian Simon.
A Colorado man accused of shooting his neighbor to death and wounding her boyfriend with a high-powered semi-automatic rifle over dog poop is claiming that he was insane during the incident.
Michael June Close, 37, allegedly fired more than 20 rounds from an AK-47 at the couple from his Denver apartment window in June after their dog defecated close to his home.
“Are you going to train that f---ing dog or just yell at it?” he yelled before shooting, local outlet KDVR reported in November.
Isabella Thallas, 21, was killed during the shooting. Her boyfriend, Darian Simon, survived with a shattered femur. The dog was unharmed.
Close entered an insanity plea virtually from jail on Monday, the Denver Post reports. He must now undergo a court-ordered examination; afterwards, experts will determine whether or not he is qualified for an insanity defense. If he is ultimately found not guilty by reason of insanity at his upcoming trial, Close will be committed to a mental health facility for treatment instead of prison. It would also mean he could be eligible for early release.
Isabella’s mother, Ana Thallas, called the insanity plea “absolutely disgusting” in a Monday interview with the Post.
“I’m furious,” she said. “I’m so furious. [...] What upsets me the most is the fact he knew right from wrong. He admitted to what he did, he even showed a sense of remorse after he did it.”
Denver police homicide investigator Joseph Trujillo testified in November that Close’s girlfriend admitted to detectives that he called her crying following the shooting, local outlet KDVR reported at the time. Trujillo also testified that Close was crying and repeatedly saying how “sorry” he was when he was arrested.
Close allegedly stole the weapon from his friend, a Denver police officer. However, it was a personal firearm, not a police-issued gun. After the shooting, Close fled, He was soon captured by authorities in nearby Jefferson County during a traffic stop.
An array of charges have been filed against Close, including two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault, nine counts of using a prohibited high-capacity magazine during a crime, two counts of prohibited use of a firearm and one count of disorderly conduct.
Close is due back in court on May 10. His trial is supposed to begin on Sept. 8.
