Nicholas Karol-Chik, a 19-year-old teen, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and committing a crime of violence in connection to the death of 20-year-old driver Alexa Bartell in suburban Denver. Karol-Chik admitted to passing a rock to another teen, Joseph Koenig, who threw it at Bartell’s car, resulting in her death on April 19, 2023. He also confessed to throwing rocks at a total of nine people that night with Koenig and another teen, Zachary Kwak, who had already pleaded guilty earlier in the year. Prosecutors noted that they were uncertain which of the teens threw the fatal rock, as Bartell’s DNA was the only one found on it.
When Koenig goes on trial in July for first-degree murder, he will be facing prosecution as the only remaining defendant in Bartell’s death. Koenig has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him, and his lawyer 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 for Bartell’s death, second-degree assault for injuring three other drivers with rocks that night, and attempted second-degree assault for three other cars that were hit but did not result in injuries.
In his admission of guilt, Karol-Chik revealed that all three teens had thrown rocks at cars that night, hitting a total of seven vehicles. He described how he handed a large landscaping rock to Koenig, who was driving, and witnessed him throw it at Bartell’s car. Karol-Chik’s plea agreement stipulates that he could be sentenced to between 35 and 72 years in prison when he appears for sentencing on September 10. During his plea hearing in court, Karol-Chik appeared dressed in an orange jail jumpsuit with his wrists handcuffed in front of him, while his parents watched from a few rows behind him.
The tragedy of Alexa Bartell’s death at the hands of the three teens throwing rocks at cars on the night of April 19, 2023, has resulted in legal consequences for those involved. While Karol-Chik and Kwak have accepted their guilt and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors, Koenig continues to maintain his innocence and is set to stand trial in July. Prosecutors have emphasized the severity of the incident, with Karol-Chik’s guilty plea to second-degree murder underscoring the gravity of his role in Bartell’s death. The legal process will continue to unfold as justice is sought for Bartell and her loved ones, with the upcoming trial for Koenig holding further implications for the case.
The impact of the teens’ actions that night, which resulted in the death of a young woman and injuries to several others, has reverberated through the community and the criminal justice system. The details of the case, including the involvement of all three teens in throwing rocks at cars, highlight the senseless violence that led to such tragic consequences. As Karol-Chik faces the prospect of a lengthy prison sentence, the full extent of his role in Bartell’s death is being brought to light through his guilty plea. The circumstances surrounding Bartell’s untimely passing serve as a somber reminder of the dangers posed by reckless behavior and the need for accountability in the pursuit of justice.
