Colorado teens charged in rock throwing attack that killed motorist

Alexa Bartell, 20, was driving Wednesday night speaking to a friend over the phone when she was fatally struck by a large rock that smashed through the windshield, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. As a result, Bartell’s vehicle went off the road and subsequently crashed into a field.

Journalist Jaleesa Irizarry took to Twitter on Wednesday, saying: “The Jeffco Sheriff's Office cited cell tower data and info from the public that led them to these three suspects. They said it was critical for them to find these suspects for Alexa Bartell's family as well as six other drivers they believe those suspects hit that night.”

Bartell was later found dead by the friend she was previously on the phone with, after she tracked Bartell down using a phone app after the line suddenly went dead. The authorities arrested three 18-year-old men who are being charged in connection with the girl’s death, according to the report.

The three friends arrested have been identified as Nicholas “Mitch” Karol-Chik, Joseph Koenig, and Zachary Kwak, all of whom have been accused of attacking other vehicles with rocks the same night that Bartell was killed. The slew of attacks were said to have begun at 10 pm, resulting in seven vehicles being targeted, according to WYFF. Though Bartell was the only one fatally struck, there are two other drivers who were injured in the rampage.

Though all three teens have been charged with first-degree murder, it is unclear who was driving the vehicle when the horrific event transpired.