Man Allegedly Fired 24 Shots At Couple After Their Dog Pooped Near His Home

A man in Denver allegedly fired at least 24 rounds at a woman and her boyfriend after the couple's dog pooped in front of his home. The woman died in the incident.

Michael Close, 36, was accused of shooting Isabella Thallas and Darian Simon while they were walking their dog in the Ballpark neighborhood on June 10. Police said Close fired at least 24 times from a high powered semi-automatic rifle. Thallas, 21, died on the spot, while Simon, 27, sustained gunshot wounds in the leg, reported Fox-affiliated television station KDVR.

Close was produced before a court Monday and a judge ordered him to be held without bond. He is set to be arraigned on Jan. 4

Close faces 22 charges including two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder, and use of a prohibited high-capacity magazine. Court records show he has no prior criminal history in the state, reported NBC-affiliated 9News.

In a probable cause statement, police said Close was agitated after he noticed Simon commanding his dog to poop outside his apartment. Denver police homicide Detective Joseph Trujillo, who testified at the preliminary hearing Monday, said the shooting was triggered after Close got mad at the dog for pooping in a rock garden outside his apartment. Close reportedly opened his window and yelled at the couple before opening fire.

The surveillance video record from the neighborhood showed Close opening his window and pointing the gun at the couple. It also showed him firing at least 24 rounds at the couple when Simon bent down to pick up his dog's poop.

Chelsea Thompson, identified as Close's girlfriend, told police that Close had called her after the incident saying he killed two people. Before that, he texted her that two dogs attacked his dog. But police could not get any evidence of possible dog attacks from the surveillance video. Trujillo told the court that the text was actually sent 10 minutes before the couple left their building with the dog.

Thompson told police that Close was diagnosed with a personality disorder and depression but he was not treated for it. He also reportedly had a history of drug abuse.

During a search, police found several open containers of alcohol, cocaine residue, six shell casings, high capacity magazines and illegal ammunition in Close's apartment. They also found 18 shell casings outside his apartment window. They recovered an assault-style weapon, a Glock 17 and a shotgun.