Prosecutors charged Steven and Corryn Simpson after alleging the couple chased a pickup through a Denver neighborhood on July 25 and a passenger, 23-year-old Andrew Luke Bott, was later fatally shot. A 911 dispatcher repeatedly urged the couple to stop; two gunshots were heard on the recording. Investigators say they used the 911 call, license-plate camera images, surveillance video and recovered firearms and ammunition to link the Simpsons to the shooting. Steven Simpson faces first-degree murder and attempted murder counts; Corryn Simpson is charged as an accessory.
Colorado Couple Charged With Murder After Alleged Chase Ends in Fatal Shooting
Image Credit: Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
A married couple in Colorado has been charged with murder after prosecutors say they chased a pickup truck through a Denver neighborhood and a passenger in that truck was later shot and killed.
What Happened
According to the First Judicial District Attorney's Office, the incident began at about 10:30 p.m. on July 25 when a white BMW X5 driven by 25-year-old Steven Cole Simpson and a Ford F-150 carrying 23-year-old passenger Andrew Luke Bott collided on southbound Santa Fe Drive near Arapahoe Community College. Prosecutors allege that after the pickup left the scene, Steven Simpson pursued the vehicle while his wife, 26-year-old Corryn Simpson, called 911 to report the crash.
911 Recording and Pursuit
Dispatchers repeatedly told the couple to stop following the pickup, but prosecutors say the BMW continued into the Grant Ranch neighborhood. During the 911 call, Corryn Simpson is alleged to have read the pickup's license plate aloud while Steven Simpson reportedly made a threatening remark. Seconds later, two gunshots are heard on the recording. Minutes after those shots, the pickup's driver called 911 to report that his passenger had been shot.
Investigation and Evidence
Investigators say they tied the Simpsons to the scene using the 911 call recording, Flock license-plate camera images, neighborhood surveillance video showing both vehicles entering and leaving the area within seconds of each other, and a search of the couple's home and vehicle. Authorities reported recovering handguns and ammunition that matched casings found at the scene. Bott was transported to a hospital and died the next day from a gunshot wound to the head.
Charges and Legal Notes
Prosecutors charged Steven Simpson with first-degree murder after deliberation (a Class 1 felony) and attempted first-degree murder after deliberation (a Class 2 felony). Corryn Simpson was charged as an accessory to first-degree murder (a Class 4 felony) based on statements she allegedly made to authorities after the incident. Under Colorado law, a first-degree murder conviction carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Context and Safety Takeaway
Colorado does not have a standalone criminal statute labeled specifically as "road rage," which is why prosecutors pursued murder-related charges rather than an offense targeting aggressive driving. The case highlights a broader safety message: pursuing a fleeing vehicle can escalate an incident and expose bystanders or occupants to serious danger. The 911 dispatcher’s instruction to discontinue the pursuit — captured on the recording used as evidence — underscores that point.
Note: A court has not yet reviewed the evidence or heard the Simpsons' account; the charges reflect prosecutors' allegations and not proven facts.
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