A 25-year-old man in Colorado has been charged with first-degree murder after deliberation for allegedly killing a passenger during a road rage shooting that unfolded while his wife was on the phone with 911 dispatchers, who repeatedly instructed them to stop pursuing the victim's vehicle.
Background
According to investigators, Steven Cole Simpson and his wife, Corryn Simpson, were driving their white BMW X5 southbound on Santa Fe Drive near Arapahoe Community College in unincorporated Jefferson County around 10:30 p.m. on July 25 when their vehicle collided with a Ford F-150 pickup truck carrying Andrew Luke Bott, 23. After the collision, the pickup fled the scene, and Steven Simpson gave chase while his wife called 911 to report the crash.
The Simpsons continued following the pickup west on Bowles Avenue and into the Grant Ranch neighborhood despite explicit instructions from dispatchers to stop pursuing the vehicle, authorities said. During the recorded call, Steven Simpson could be heard making a threatening statement just moments before two gunshots were heard by the dispatcher.
Prosecutors allege that during the chase, Steven Simpson fired multiple rounds into the pickup truck. One of those shots struck Bott in the head. The driver of the pickup called 911 after pulling into the parking lot at Columbine High School, where Jefferson County Sheriff's deputies rendered emergency aid before transporting Bott to Littleton Adventist Hospital. He died from his injuries the following day.
The Charges
Steven Cole Simpson was taken into custody this week and charged with one count of first-degree murder after deliberation and one count of attempted first-degree murder after deliberation in connection with Bott's death, according to a news release from the First Judicial District Attorney's Office. His wife, 26-year-old Corryn Simpson, faces charges as an accessory to first-degree murder for allegedly continuing to follow the pickup despite being instructed by dispatchers to stop.
Detectives identified the Simpsons through witness statements, 911 recordings, Flock cameras, and surveillance footage obtained via search warrants. The Flock camera system reportedly captured both vehicles entering and leaving the Grant Ranch neighborhood within seconds of one another. Investigators executed additional search warrants at the couple's Highlands Ranch home and their BMW, seizing three 9mm handguns along with ammunition allegedly consistent with shell casings recovered from the shooting scene.
The weapons have been sent to a crime lab for forensic testing, authorities said. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office was assisted by the Littleton Police Department during the investigation.
Key Takeaways
- Steven Cole Simpson, 25, faces one count of first-degree murder after deliberation and one count of attempted first-degree murder after deliberation
- Andrew Luke Bott, 23, died from a gunshot wound to the head sustained during the alleged road rage shooting on July 25
- Corryn Simpson, 26, has been charged as an accessory to first-degree murder for allegedly continuing to pursue the victim despite being instructed by 911 dispatchers to stop
- Three 9mm handguns and ammunition were seized from the Simpsons' home and vehicle
- Both defendants are scheduled to appear in Jefferson County Court on Sept. 2 for a preliminary hearing
What's Next
Both Steven Cole Simpson and Corryn Simpson are scheduled to appear in Jefferson County Court for a preliminary hearing on Sept. 2, according to court records. Additional forensic testing on the seized weapons and ammunition remains pending, and prosecutors may pursue additional charges as the case develops.