Suspect in deadly rock-throwing case pleads guilty
DENVER (KDVR) — On Friday, Zachary Kwak, 19, appeared in court and pleaded guilty for his alleged role in a deadly rock-throwing crime spree in Jefferson and Boulder counties that killed a 20-year-old woman.
Kwak pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree assault, one count of second-degree assault and an added count of criminal attempt to commit assault. As part of the plea deal, he will serve no less than 20 years but no more than 32 years.
His previous charges were dismissed as a result of the plea.
Kwak was one of three high school seniors arrested in connection to the case in 2023. At the time of their arrests, the students were taken into custody on charges of first-degree murder – extreme indifference.
‘She really left a mark’: Friend mourns woman killed in rock attack
Kwak will be sentenced on Sept. 3 after the other two suspects’ cases are complete.
20-year-old killed while driving in Jefferson County
The charges stem from a string of crimes that took place in April 2023. Alexa Bartell was killed while driving northbound near the 10600 block of Indiana Street when she was struck by a large rock that was thrown at her car.
Investigators said the rock hit Bartell, and she was killed.
Bartell had been on the phone with a friend at the time. That friend tracked Bartell’s phone and found the 20-year-old dead in her car, which was off the road in a field.
Bartell’s family was in the courtroom on Friday to hear Kwak make his guilty plea. FOX31’s Vicente Arenas said the group could be seen wiping tears from their faces during the 15-minute proceedings. They offered no comment while leaving the courthouse.
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Meanwhile, Kwak was dressed in a jail uniform, handcuffed. He answered the judge’s questions, saying he understood his plea and its implications. He will not be sentenced until verdicts are rendered in his two co-defendant’s cases.
This was not the first instance of rocks being thrown at cars that night. A total of five incidents were reported. The other drivers had objects thrown at their vehicles but have recovered from minor injuries.
Joseph Koenig is scheduled to appear for a jury trial in the case on July 19 but is next scheduled to appear in court on July 3 for a motions hearing. Nicholas Karol-Chik is scheduled for a jury trial on June 7.
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