Nicholas Karol-Chik, a 19-year-old, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and committing a crime of violence in the death of 20-year-old Alexa Bartell, who was hit in the head by a rock that crashed through her windshield in suburban Denver last year. Karol-Chik admitted to passing a rock to another teen, Joseph Koenig, who then threw it at Bartell’s car, resulting in her death on April 19, 2023. He also pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder for throwing rocks at nine people that night with Koenig and Zachary Kwak, who also pleaded guilty earlier.
Prosecutors did not know which of the three teens threw the fatal rock at Bartell, as the only DNA found on it belonged to her, prompting them to potentially rely on Karol-Chik’s testimony during Koenig’s upcoming trial in July. Koenig, the only remaining defendant being prosecuted for first-degree murder in Bartell’s death, has pleaded not guilty, and his lawyer declined to comment on the case. Both Karol-Chik and Kwak agreed to cooperate with prosecutors as part of their plea agreements, with Kwak pleading guilty to various charges related to the incident.
According to facts admitted by Karol-Chik, all three teens threw rocks at oncoming cars that night, hitting a total of seven vehicles. Karol-Chik confessed to being the one who handed Koenig a large landscaping rock, which Koenig then threw at Bartell’s car while driving. As part of his plea agreement, Karol-Chik could face a sentence of between 35 and 72 years in prison when he is sentenced on September 10. In court, Karol-Chik appeared in an orange jail jumpsuit and entered his plea as his parents watched from a few rows behind him, with his mother visibly emotional during the hearing. Bartell’s family and friends, who filled the other side of the courtroom, were also emotional during the proceedings.
The tragic incident involving Bartell’s death and the ensuing legal actions have brought the community’s attention to the potential consequences of reckless behavior. The plea agreements made by Karol-Chik and Kwak highlight the seriousness of their actions that led to Bartell’s death and the injuries of other individuals that night. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the actual rock thrower responsible for Bartell’s death, the guilty pleas and cooperation from Karol-Chik and Kwak may aid prosecutors in seeking justice for the victim in Koenig’s upcoming trial. The emotional courtroom scene during Karol-Chik’s plea serves as a poignant reminder of the impact of such senseless acts of violence on families and communities.
