Nicholas Karol Chik, also known as Mitch, is an 18-year-old high school senior from Arvada, Colorado. He is one of the three suspects who were arrested and charged with first-degree murder with extreme indifference in the killing of a 20-year-old woman, Alexa Bartell, on a Colorado highway in April 2023. According to CNN, Karol Chik and his two accomplices, Joseph Koenig and Zachary Kwak, allegedly threw a large rock at Bartell’s car, smashing through her windshield and causing her death.
The Crime Spree
The rock-throwing crime spree took place on the night of April 19, 2023, in Jefferson and Boulder counties. The three suspects, who were driving a black Chevy Silverado, targeted seven moving cars with 4-to-6-inch landscaping rocks, injuring several people and killing Bartell. According to NBC News, the suspects took a photo of the scene where Bartell died, then pledged a “blood brothers” oath to keep quiet about the crime.
The suspects were arrested on April 26, 2023, after investigators used cell phone device forensics and supporting information from the public to identify them. They were each charged with more than a dozen counts, including first-degree murder with extreme indifference, attempted first-degree murder, assault, criminal mischief, and reckless endangerment.
The Motive
The motive behind the rock-throwing crime spree remains unclear. Investigators have not found any evidence that the suspects knew Bartell or any of the other victims, or that they were involved in a social media challenge. According to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the charge of first-degree murder with extreme indifference implies that the suspects showed an attitude or behavior that was indifferent to the respect for human life.
The Trial
The trial for the three suspects is scheduled to begin in January 2024. They are being held without bond at the Jefferson County Jail. If convicted, they could face life in prison without parole or the death penalty. The families of the victims have expressed their grief and anger over the senseless and brutal crime, and have called for justice for their loved ones.