Teen trio who killed Alexa Bartell in rock-throwing spree charged with murder and 12 other crimes
JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO: Three teens from Colorado have been formally charged with murder and a dozen other charges after being arrested last week on suspicion of throwing a huge rock that killed driver, Alexa Bartell. Nicholas “Mitch” Karol-Chik, Joseph Koenig, and Zachary Kwak, all 18, are now officially charged in Bartell’s killing and alleged attacks on six other cars in suburban Denver.
"Based on the available facts and after careful legal analysis, we have filed charges and will now move forward with a criminal prosecution," First Judicial District Attorney Alexis King said in a statement. During a brief hearing on Wednesday afternoon, all three suspects—clad in orange jumpsuits—appeared in court. They only said, "Yes, Your Honor," according to ABC News. They didn't say anything else.
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Who is Alexis King?
Alexis King was elected as the first female District Attorney for Colorado's First Judicial District in November 2020 and assumed office in January 2021. Her experience inspired her to attend law school, and she graduated from the University of Denver's Sturm College of Law in 2006, after which she clerked for the Honorable William Robbins in Denver District Court. She began working as a deputy district attorney for the First Judicial District Attorney's Office in 2007 and held that position for ten years, as per the website.
What are the charges filed against the three suspects?
Nicholas “Mitch” Karol-Chik, Joseph Koenig and Zachary Kwak, all 18, each face charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, second-degree assault and attempted second-degree assault in Bartell’s killing and alleged attacks on six other cars in suburban Denver, First Judicial District Attorney Alexis King announced on Wednesday, May 3. Attorneys for the defendants declined to have the accusations against them read aloud. The teens accused are being held in jail without bond. On May 16, they must return to court for another hearing.
Bartell's death
According to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Bartell, 20, was hit with a sizable landscaping rock while she was traveling home from work at 10.45 pm on April 19. The woman was killed when a stone crashed through the windshield while she was talking on the phone with a friend. When the phone went dead, Bartell's worried friend used her phone's location to find her. Bartell's lifeless body was found inside her wrecked car, which was lying in a field next to the road.
Karol-Chik told the authorities that he and Koenig had thrown rocks and even a statue at passing cars at least 10 prior days before the fatal incident after being apprehended in connection with Bartell's murder. According to Karol-Chik's account, which is reflected in the arrest affidavits, Kwak learned about what they had been doing and asked to join them. In addition, Koenig slowed down his automobile so Kwak could take a picture of Bartell's mangled car in the field, according to Karol-Chik.
Two other drivers were hurt
According to court filings, Kwak said that all three of them became ecstatic whenever they struck a car with landscaping pebbles stolen from a Walmart parking lot, but he did admit feeling "a hint of guilt" while walking past Bartell's vehicle. As per the affidavits, Kwak claimed he shot the picture because he believed Karol-Chik or Koenig would want a "memento" of what had occurred. According to authorities, two other drivers were hurt slightly as a result of the rock-throwing spree.