Colorado Rock Throwing Incident: Second Suspect Pleads Guilty in 20-Year-Old Driver's Death

A second teen confessed liable on Wednesday about the demise of a 20-year-old driver who was badly hit in the head by a rock that penetrated her windshield in rural Denver last year.

Second Suspect Involved in Rock-Throwing Incident Pleads Guilty

By a plea deal, Nicholas Karol-Chik, aged 19, admitted to accusations of second-degree killing and committing a murderous crime. He revealed that he passed a rock to another teenager, Joseph Koenig, who subsequently hurled it at Alexa Bartell's car, leading to her passing on April 19, 2023.

Karol-Chik also confessed to attempted first-degree murder for participating in rock-throwing incidents targeting nine people that night alongside Koenig and Zachary Kwak, who had previously pleaded guilty.

Prosecutors had been unable to ascertain which of the three teenagers threw the fatal rock, as Bartell's DNA was the only one found on it.

Thus, they may rely on Karol-Chik's testimony during Koenig's forthcoming trial, the sole defendant still facing first-degree murder charges in Bartell's death, scheduled for July. Koenig has entered a plea of not guilty, and his attorney, Martin Stuart, declined to comment.

Both Karol-Chik and Kwak have agreed to cooperate with prosecutors as part of their plea agreements. Kwak pleaded guilty to first-degree assault in Bartell's death, as well as second-degree assault for three other drivers injured by rocks that night, and attempted second-degree assault for three other vehicles hit by rocks without causing injuries.

According to Karol-Chik's admissions, all three teenagers threw rocks at passing cars that night, hitting a total of seven vehicles.

Karol-Chik stated that he was in the front passenger seat when he handed Koenig a large landscaping rock, which Koenig, who was driving, then threw at Bartell's car.

Colorado Teen To Be Sentenced for Throwing Rocks at Moving Cars

Under his plea agreement, Karol-Chik faces a potential sentence of 35 to 72 years in prison when he is sentenced on September 10.

Karol-Chik, attired in an orange jail jumpsuit with handcuffs on his wrists, entered his plea in court while his parents observed from a few rows behind.

He respectfully responded to Judge Christopher Zenisek's inquiries about his understanding of the proceedings, while his mother, seated on the defense side of the courtroom, shed tears. Bartell's family and friends occupied the other side of the courtroom, with some also wiping away tears during the hearing.

Authorities indicated that the string of attacks happened within proximity to each other and occurred over about 45 minutes. Investigators utilized cellphone tracking and DNA evidence to link the three teenagers to Bartell's death.

As law enforcement sought out suspects, a reward for information rose to $17,000. After the teenagers were apprehended in late April, authorities disclosed that one of them took photos of Bartell's damaged car for sentimental reasons and did not attempt to help her when her vehicle veered off the road.

"Investigators cited Mitch's statement claiming it was Zach who threw the 'fatal' rock at Alexis' vehicle. Upon revisiting the scene, they passed by Alexis' vehicle traveling northbound before turning around southbound.

Joe slowed down the vehicle to allow Zach to capture a photo," an investigator detailed in court records. "As they approached the stopped vehicle, Zachary used his cellphone to snap a picture. When questioned about the motive, he explained that he believed Joseph or Mitch would want it as a memento."