- Duy Nguyen, 26, was sentenced to 40 years for ambushing and shooting her ex-boyfriend in Longmont, Colorado.
- The shooting occurred on February 5, 2025, when Chance Cardona was shot at close range six times.
- Nguyen was convicted of attempted murder and first-degree assault after evidence linked her to the crime.
LONGMONT, COLORADO — Duy Nguyen, 26, was sentenced to 40 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections after a jury found her guilty of ambushing and shooting her former boyfriend multiple times outside his apartment complex, according to a release from the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office.
What Happened During The Shooting
Investigators said the shooting unfolded around 8:45 p.m. on February 5, 2025, at an apartment complex in Longmont. Prosecutors said the victim, Chance Cardona, had just returned home from the Colorado Mountain Kava Bar when he parked and opened his car door — and was shot at close range at least six times.
Cardona survived and was able to call 911. Authorities said he suffered gunshot wounds to the face, shoulder, arm and thigh.
How Investigators Identified A Suspect
The district attorney’s office said Cardona provided officers with a partial identification at the scene. Investigators also used automatic license plate reader images that captured a vehicle fleeing, along with shell casings collected at the location, to determine Nguyen as the suspect.
During a search of Nguyen’s home, authorities said they recovered the firearm used in the shooting and seized electronic devices that showed she had been planning the attack for weeks. Prosecutors said Nguyen and Cardona had previously been in a relationship that ended months before the shooting.
Sentence And Convictions
Nguyen was convicted at trial of criminal attempt to commit murder in the second degree and first-degree assault, along with two “crimes of violence” sentencing enhancers, the DA’s office said.
At sentencing on February 13, Nguyen received 40 years on the attempted murder charge and 20 years on the assault charge, to run concurrently — meaning she will serve a total of 40 years, according to the same release.
A deputy district attorney said the victim’s survival was the reason the case resulted in an attempted-murder sentence rather than a murder sentence.
For more cases involving relationship violence and domestic disputes that turn deadly, check out our video here:
