Ernest Cunningham, a 53-year-old Colorado man on parole for burglary, was sentenced to 42 years in prison for second-degree murder after shooting 23-year-old Kelsey Roberts-Gariety at her Denver apartment on June 29, 2024. He went there to confront her husband—a former coworker fired after Cunningham’s alleged on-the-job drug use and threats—but killed Roberts-Gariety when she answered the door.
Incident Details
Cunningham had repeatedly harassed the husband post-firing, knew their address, and fled after the shooting, captured on building surveillance and a resident’s video of his car speeding away. Another neighbor heard the gunshot and running footsteps that afternoon. Police arrested him hours later using the footage.
Legal Outcome
A jury convicted him in December 2025, leading to the February 27 sentencing. Roberts-Gariety’s sister Kylie Al-Nubu’at called it “basically a life sentence,” equating their lifelong grief to justice served.
Victim Background
Roberts-Gariety lived with her husband, who implicated Cunningham’s workplace grudge as the motive. The case underscores parole risks and workplace tensions escalating to deadly violence.
