In Grand Junction, Colorado, on September 21, 2017, a promising young musician's life was tragically cut short. Micah Dancy, a 26-year-old male, was a senior at Colorado Mesa University, where he was pursuing a major in Music and a minor in Business. An accomplished classical guitarist and pianist, he was an active member of the university's ensemble and also performed with the Monument Presbyterian Church music group.
His passion for music was a constant in his life, often spending hours playing and composing original pieces with a childhood friend.
Beyond his musical talents, Micah was a beloved son and brother who enjoyed the simple pleasures of life in his hometown. He was an avid reader and cherished daily tea time with his mother. He found joy in the outdoors, often fishing and hiking with his brothers. Known for his dislike of driving, he preferred to walk, enjoying his neighborhood and his strolls to the university. His life was filled with family, friends from the university's music department, and the companionship of his cats.
The circumstances of his death were both sudden and heartbreaking. Micah was shot in the chest and died before authorities could arrive. The person responsible was his own best friend, 24-year-old Robert Pickford. In a moment of profound recklessness, Pickford pointed a handgun at Micah, believing it to be unloaded, and pulled the trigger. It was Pickford himself who made the distraught 911 call, telling dispatchers, 'I shot my best friend.' When police responded to the scene, they found Pickford attempting to administer CPR to Micah. Investigators at the scene discovered empty alcohol containers and marijuana paraphernalia.
In the aftermath of the tragic event, Robert Pickford was arrested and ultimately pleaded guilty to manslaughter. For the death of his best friend, he was sentenced to 90 days in jail, followed by five years of probation. The loss of Micah Dancy was deeply felt by his family and the community, who remembered him as a talented and cherished individual. To honor his memory, a music scholarship was established in his name at Colorado Mesa University.
