Brade
Three Denver-area teenagers were convicted in a tragic incident where one of the rocks thrown at passing vehicles struck and killed Alexa Bartell. The case concluded with one of the teens, Joseph Koenig, being found guilty of first-degree murder on Friday.
The incident unfolded on April 19, 2023, when Koenig, Zachary Kwak, and Nicholas Karol-Chik were involved in a series of rock-throwing attacks targeting vehicles. One of the rocks, a 9-pound landscaping stone, crashed through Bartell’s windshield, killing her instantly. Despite the initial confusion, DNA solely tied to Bartell was found on the rock, prompting further investigation.
The two other teens, Kwak and Karol-ChikKoenig during the trial.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Katharine Decker highlighted that Koenig‘s left-handedness and the angle of the impact matched his involvement. She emphasized that even without certainty over who threw the rock, Koenig was equally culpable for planning the violent acts.
The trial revealed harrowing details about the incident, with Bartell’s family and friends describing profound grief and emptiness despite the trial’s resolution. Her mother, Kelly BartellBartell‘s body discovered later by her loved one when a phone call abruptly ended and her phone was tracked down.
Both Kwak and Karol-ChikKarol-Chik noting that Koenig expressed visible excitement during their deadly acts before and after the fatal strike.
Koenig will undergo sentencing scheduled for June 3 with permanent implications due to his first-degree murder conviction. Meanwhile sentencing for the remainder had already begun with similarly severe repercussions.
This tragic event leaves extended ramifications for everyone touched by its devastating unfolding.
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