A Colorado woman will spend decades in prison after prosecutors say she lay in wait outside her former boyfriend’s Longmont apartment and opened fire when he came home. The victim, Chance Cardona, survived after being struck six times and managing to call 911. Authorities say he was hit in the face, shoulder, arm, and thigh shortly after returning from a Longmont kava bar on Feb. 5, 2025.
Judge Hands Down Prison Term
A Boulder County judge sentenced the woman this week to 40 years in prison for attempted murder and 20 years for first-degree assault, with both terms ordered to run at the same time. The punishment follows a jury verdict reached in December in Boulder County that found the defendant guilty on violent felony charges. According to CBS Colorado, the sentence will be served in the Colorado Department of Corrections.
Prosecutors Say It Was An Ambush
Prosecutors say Cardona had just driven home from the Colorado Mountain Kava Bar when he was attacked at point-blank range as he opened the door to his apartment. Despite his wounds, officials say he was able to call 911 and get emergency medical help. The Boulder County District Attorney’s Office said investigators recovered shell casings at the scene and used license plate reader images that showed the suspect vehicle leaving the area. "Their hard work and the evidence from their investigation ... is why this terrible shooting was solved," District Attorney Michael Dougherty said in a press release, according to the Boulder County District Attorney's Office.
Evidence Cited At Trial
Investigators executed a search warrant at the suspect’s home and reported finding the firearm used in the attack. Authorities also say a forensic review of electronic devices uncovered planning in the lead-up to the shooting. At trial, prosecutors pointed to that digital trail, the shell casings recovered at the scene, and license plate reader matches as key pieces of evidence tying the defendant to the ambush. As detailed by CBS Colorado, jurors convicted the defendant on violent counts along with sentence-enhancing charges for crimes of violence.
Conviction Timeline And Legal Notes
The jury returned its guilty verdicts in December 2025, according to the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors used sentencing enhancers linked to crimes of violence and highlighted the statutory ranges for the top charges. The office noted that a criminal attempt to commit first-degree murder carries a sentencing range of 16 to 48 years, while first-degree assault carries a range of 10 to 32 years, explaining why they asked for a lengthy prison term in this case, the Boulder County District Attorney's Office said.
