(Golden, CO – November 9, 2020) District Attorney Pete Weir announced that charges have been filed in the shooting death of 40-year-old Michael Dean Bryan. William Robert Taft, DOB: 5-24-71, has been charged with First Degree Murder – After Deliberation (F1); Attempted Murder (F2); Possession of a Weapon by a Previous Offender (F6); Possession of Prohibited Large Capacity Magazine (F6); Possession of a Defaced Firearm (M1); two counts of Violation of a Protective Order (M1); two Violent Crime Counts.
On October 24, 2020, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office was called to 5080 McIntyre Street regarding a person with a gunshot wound. According to the arrest affidavit, deputies found Michael Bryan lying on the ground outside the house. He appeared to have suffered a gunshot wound and was not breathing. He was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
According to the affidavit, William Taft lived on the property where Mr. Bryan was found. Taft and Bryan are alleged to have been engaged in a physical altercation when Mr. Bryan was shot.
Taft appeared in Jefferson County Court on November 3, 2020 where he was advised of the charges that have been filed. He is being held without bond at the Jefferson County jail. He is due back in court for preliminary hearing on December 1, 2020.
The filing of a criminal charge is merely a formal accusation that an individual has committed a crime(s). A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. See Colo. RPC 3.6
