Teens accused of deadly assault rock-throwing spree formally charged with murder

[Otto Niebergall]

Lock 'em up. Weld the doors shut.

Three Colorado teenagers arrested in connection with a rock-throwing spree
that killed a driver have been formally charged with murder.

They also now face a dozen other counts for allegedly throwing large
landscaping rocks toward seven vehicles on suburban Denver roads on April
19.

Joseph Koenig, Nicholas "Mitch" Karol-Chik and Zachary Kwak, all 18-year-
old high school seniors, were arrested last month on first-degree murder,
with extreme indifference, in connection with the rock-throwing spree.

The final rock-throwing incident killed 20-year-old driver Alexa Bartell.
Three other people were injured, according to prosecutors.

The three teens have now formally been charged with one count of murder in
the first degree, with extreme indifference, as well as six counts of
criminal attempt to commit murder in the first degree, three counts of
assault in the second degree and three counts of criminal attempt to
commit assault in the second degree, the Colorado First Judicial District
Attorney's Office announced Wednesday.

"Based on the available facts and after careful legal analysis, we have
filed charges and will now move forward with a criminal prosecution,"
First Judicial District Attorney Alexis King said in a statement. "It is
important to remember that these individuals are presumed innocent unless
and until they are proven guilty. As in every case, our goal is to seek
justice.”

Karol-Chik, Koenig, and Kwak are being held without bond. They appeared in
court Wednesday for the return filing of charges.

The three defendants, dressed in orange jumpsuits and handcuffed, sat with
their attorneys. A court official escorted six family members who sat in
the front row. The families declined to talk to ABC News or identify
themselves.

As the proceeding began, Judge Christopher Zenisek asked each defendant if
they were aware of the charges. Their attorneys responded yes. The only
words each defendant spoke were, “Yes, your honor.”

The next hearing in the case has been scheduled for May 16.

Koenig and Karol-Chik had allegedly thrown rocks at cars on at least 10
separate occasions since February, according to court documents.

Karol-Chik allegedly told police that on April 19, all three teens threw
rocks at cars and they were "excited" when they hit them, according to
court documents. He allegedly said Kwak was the one who threw the fatal
rock at Bartell's car, the documents said.

After Bartell's car was hit, Kwak allegedly said, "We have to go back to
see that," and when they turned around, Kwak allegedly took a photo of
Bartell's car "as a memento," according to the documents.

ABC News' Emily Shapiro and Jeffrey Cook contributed to this report.

<https://abcnews.go.com/US/teens-accused-deadly-rock-throwing-spree-
formally-charged/story?id=99053570>

[Just Wondering]

Post by Otto Niebergall
Three Colorado teenagers arrested in connection with a rock-throwing spree
that killed a driver have been formally charged with murder.
They also now face a dozen other counts for allegedly throwing large
landscaping rocks toward seven vehicles on suburban Denver roads on April
19.
Joseph Koenig, Nicholas "Mitch" Karol-Chik and Zachary Kwak, all 18-year-
old high school seniors, were arrested last month on first-degree murder,
with extreme indifference, in connection with the rock-throwing spree.
The final rock-throwing incident killed 20-year-old driver Alexa Bartell.
Three other people were injured, according to prosecutors.
The three teens have now formally been charged with one count of murder in
the first degree, with extreme indifference, as well as six counts of
criminal attempt to commit murder in the first degree, three counts of
assault in the second degree and three counts of criminal attempt to
commit assault in the second degree, the Colorado First Judicial District
Attorney's Office announced Wednesday.

It goes to show, we've got to get us some of them there common-sense
big rock control thingies. You know, universal background checks to
own big rocks, bans on 18YO critters owning big rocks, no interstate
sales of big rocks, that sort of thing. Laws like that will put a
stop to this sort of shenanigans.

[The Real Bev]

All fire-starting groups deleted...

Post by Otto Niebergall
The three teens have now formally been charged with one count of murder in
the first degree, with extreme indifference, as well as six counts of
criminal attempt to commit murder in the first degree, three counts of
assault in the second degree and three counts of criminal attempt to
commit assault in the second degree, the Colorado First Judicial District
Attorney's Office announced Wednesday.

6 months probation and 120 hours of community service. After all,
they're teens and their brains aren't fully formed yet.

You heard it here first.