In a quiet Thornton, Colorado neighborhood on the evening of March 27, 2018, a dispute between neighbors over a dog escalated into a fatal shooting that claimed the life of 42-year-old Dustin Schmidt. The incident unfolded in the 4000 block of East 106th Drive, where Schmidt resided with his girlfriend, Vicki Branaghan.
The conflict began when Branaghan's German-shepherd mix, Bruno, jumped the fence into the yard of their neighbor, Michael Kourosh Sadeghi. Schmidt retrieved the dog, which was reportedly hanging by its leash, and according to Branaghan, swatted the animal on its rear, saying 'bad boy.' This action allegedly angered Sadeghi, who was 32 at the time.
Words were exchanged between the two men over the fence. Branaghan stated that after the brief argument, Schmidt turned to walk back to his own home. It was at this moment that Sadeghi began firing a gun. Schmidt was struck four times and fell in his backyard. Branaghan rushed to his side, but his injuries were fatal, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Thornton police officers were called to the home shortly before 8 p.m. and arrested Sadeghi at his residence. He was subsequently charged with first-degree murder. While Branaghan maintained that her boyfriend was shot in the back as he walked away, Sadeghi and his family later disputed this account, claiming he acted in self-defense. Sadeghi alleged that he witnessed Schmidt pinning the dog to the ground and hitting it with his fist, and that after an exchange, he felt threatened.
In May 2019, an Adams County jury found Michael Kourosh Sadeghi guilty of first-degree murder. The following month, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Prosecutors noted Sadeghi's 'complete lack of remorse' for the killing of the unarmed Schmidt. Dustin Schmidt was remembered as a kind-hearted and loving man who enjoyed playing the guitar, singing karaoke, and spending time with his friends and family. He had moved to Colorado from Oklahoma and worked as a warehouse supervisor.
