Michael David Counterman (DOB: 12-30-1979) was sentenced Friday to life in prison without the possibility of parole by the First Judicial District Court for the murder of 50-year-old Randi Ackerman.
“Randi will be remembered by so many,” Ackerman’s family said in a statement. “He left the world a better place by sharing his enthusiasm for enjoying even the little things in life.”
“Randi Ackerman was so well loved by his family, friends, and neighbors, and these are the people that will continue to suffer as a result of the defendant’s choices and actions,” said Chief Deputy District Attorney Alexandra Brady in the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office (Gilpin/Jefferson).
Lakewood Police Department was dispatched to Green Mountain Apartments on April 4, 2020, in response to reports of gunfire. When officers arrived, they found Ackerman kneeling in the street with a gunshot wound to his chest. It was later discovered by medical personnel that he had also suffered gunshot wounds to the arm, abdomen and both knees. Ackerman was transported to St. Anthony’s Hospital and approximately ten days later, on April 15, 2020, Ackerman passed away from his injuries.
Through the investigation, detectives learned that the victim identified his shooter as “Michael”, to the witnesses and first responders that arrived on scene. Multiple witnesses also overheard the confrontation and were able to identify the vehicle associated to the shooter. With the help of these witness statements, law enforcement quickly identified the shooter as Michael Counterman, the new boyfriend of the victim’s ex-girlfriend. Further investigation revealed that Counterman left his DNA on evidence at the crime scene.
On September 24, 2021, after a week-long trial, a Jefferson County jury found Counterman guilty of First-Degree Murder After Deliberation.