Gunbarrel road rage defendant sentenced for 2021 shooting

David Joseph Waters, age 40, was sentenced to 16 years in the Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to charges of attempted second-degree murder and possession of explosives or incendiary parts resulting from a road rage incident in Heatherwood on November 24, 2021.

Waters was sentenced as part of a plea bargain with the stipulation that he would receive a sentence of between 10 and 30 years in prison.

On May 12, Boulder County District Judge Robert Gunning sentenced Waters to 12 years on the attempted murder charge and four years on the possession of explosives charge. Waters, who has remained incarcerated since his arrest, will receive credit for 459 days of time served. Several other charges were dismissed as part of the plea bargain.

According to a release from the Boulder County Sheriff’s office, deputies responded to a call at 6:50 a.m. from a driver near the intersection of N. 75th Street and Heatherwood Drive. The caller reported that as he was passing Waters’ vehicle, Waters shot at him with a handgun.

According to Boulder County Assessor’s records, Waters purchased a home on Ipswich Street in Heatherwood in 1992 and continues to own the home. A search of the home following the report of the shooting revealed a large number of firearms, ammunition, tactical gear and what appeared to be bomb-making materials.

Waters did not have any prior felony convictions, but did have a 2009 weapons charge in Boulder County.