3 Colorado Teens Arrested After Deadly Rock-Throwing Spree That Killed a Woman

Authorities said Wednesday they had detained three Colorado teens on suspicion of killing a woman by throwing a landscaping rock at her as she drove outside Denver.

According to Yahoo! News, Jefferson County sheriff's investigators noted that 20-year-old Alexa Bartell "was killed when a rock was thrown through her windshield while she was driving" north in the 10600 block of Indiana Street around 10:45 p.m. on April 19 in Westminster.

Authorities said several vehicles, including Bartell's, were hit by "large landscaping rocks in a spree" that started shortly after 10 p.m. near 100th Avenue and Simms Street.

Jacki Kelley, a spokeswoman for the sheriff's office, told reporters that public information and cell phone data were crucial in locating the perpetrators that led to the arrest of three Colorado teens.

"This case touched a lot of people deeply," Kelley said. "This was a beautiful young woman with her whole life in front of her who was simply driving home, and her life was ended due to these acts. It shocked a community, and people wanted to find out who was involved."

3 Colorado Teens Arrested for Fatal Rock Throwing

CNN reported that the sheriff's office said the three Colorado teens, all high school seniors, were apprehended Tuesday night in connection with Alexa Bartell's death.

The sheriff's office noted that suspects Joseph Koenig, Nicholas "Mitch" Karol-Chik, and Zachary Kwak, all 18, will face charges of first-degree murder with extreme indifference.

In a press release, police said any additional charges would be filed in Colorado's First Judicial District Attorney's Office.

The Colorado teens will be "advised of the charges against them" during their first court appearance on Thursday. Until then, they will remain in custody, Kelley said.

Colorado Teens Involved in 'Criminal Episode'

The Colorado teens are all high school seniors in three different schools in Arvada. Joseph Koenig was attending Ralston Valley High School with concurrent enrollment in Jeffco Virtual Academy, according to 9News.

Nicholas Karol-Chik transferred to Jeffco Virtual Academy from Ralston Valley High School in August 2022. The school district reported that Zachary Kwak had been enrolled at Standley Lake High School since August 2021, having transferred there from another state.

The district informed parents at each school via letters that their children would not be returning to school.

Kelley explained the charges against the Colorado teens, saying, "It's described as an attitude or behavior which exhibits indifference about what they're doing... And in this one, it was in relation to respect for human life."

Kelley said all three teens were involved "in this criminal episode." However, she noted it was still unclear who was driving the black 2016 Chevrolet Silverado and who was throwing rocks, Fox31 reported.

Kelley added that Koenig's father was also taken into custody for obstruction during his son's arrest.

This is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Three 18-Year-Olds Arrested in Deadly Rock-Throwing Spree - From FOX31 Denver