Authorities in Aurora, Colorado, have arrested a man accused of fatally shooting his wife inside their family home while their children were sleeping nearby.
David O’Grady, 36, faces charges of first-degree murder and domestic violence in connection with the September 7 killing of his wife, Taylor Dawn Last, 29. According to the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, O’Grady initially claimed the shooting was an accident, but investigators say evidence points to intentional violence.
Police records state that O’Grady called 911 around 7:45 a.m. on Sunday morning. He allegedly told dispatchers he had been “clearing his gun” when it discharged and struck his wife in the chest. He further claimed he attempted CPR for nearly an hour before calling for help.
When officers arrived at the couple’s home on Shawnee Way, they found Taylor lying on her back, her body cold and stiff, suggesting she had been dead for several hours. O’Grady let authorities inside and recounted his version of events, but inconsistencies quickly raised suspicion.
The affidavit states that O’Grady admitted he and Taylor had been in a heated argument prior to the shooting. During the fight, he acknowledged knowing the gun was loaded and even fired a round into the bed. Moments later, as Taylor entered the room, he allegedly aimed the weapon in her direction and pulled the trigger.
The couple’s two children, ages six and four, were asleep in a shared bedroom upstairs at the time of the shooting. According to investigators, the children later told authorities they heard “loud arguing” followed by a gunshot. They described seeing their father throw something at their mother before she collapsed onto the bed. Police noted “broken colorful things” were scattered in the bedroom, though none were present when officers arrived.
Also present in the house that night was O’Grady’s mother, though it remains unclear what she witnessed.
Taylor’s death has devastated her family, who describe her as a loving and devoted mother. Her aunt created a GoFundMe page calling the killing an “unimaginable tragedy” and a “tragic act of domestic violence.” The fundraiser highlights that Taylor’s two daughters are now left without both parents, as their father remains behind bars. The page also notes the younger child’s fourth birthday fell just days after the slaying.
“She was a loving mother to her two beautiful little girls,” the fundraiser reads. “The unthinkable happened — their father was responsible for her death, and he is now incarcerated. This leaves these sweet girls without both of their parents.”
O’Grady was booked into the Arapahoe County jail and remains in custody ahead of his first court appearance, scheduled for September 11 at 1:30 p.m. He faces life imprisonment if convicted.
The case has reignited conversations about domestic violence and firearm safety, particularly in households with young children. Authorities emphasize that while O’Grady described the shooting as “accidental,” the evidence suggests otherwise, painting the incident as a fatal escalation of a marital dispute.
The investigation remains ongoing.
