Suspects in rock-throwing death of Alexa Bartell face additional charges, appear in court
The suspects arrested and accused in the rock-throwing death of Alexa Bartell appeared in Jefferson County Court on Wednesday afternoon. They are facing several additional charges than initially brought against them when they were arrested last month.
Joseph Koenig, Nicholas "Mitch" Karol-Chik and Zachary Kwak are each facing 13 charges in connection with rock-throwing attacks that killed 20-year-old Alexa Bartell and injured others. All of the suspects are 18 years old and are seniors in high school. One attends Ralston Valley High School, one goes to Standley Lake High School in Westminster, and the other attends online school.
In addition to the first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder charges, they are also facing multiple counts of assault and attempted assault.
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Bartell, of Arvada, was killed late at night on April 19 when a rock crashed through her windshield as she was driving on the 10600 block of Indiana Street close to the Jefferson County and Boulder County lines. Her vehicle left the roadway and ended up in a field. She was on the phone talking to a friend when she was struck and the phone went silent.
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Two other people were also hurt in earlier rock attacks that night. Seven vehicles in total were hit by what authorities now describe as "large landscaping rocks." It's believed the suspects were in moving vehicle when the rocks were thrown.
A memorial for Bartell with flowers and pinwheels now sits along a fence next to Indiana Street where she died.
The three suspects remain in custody without bond and are due back in court on May 16 for their next court appearance.