Two weeks after they went on a rock-throwing spree which proved fatal, three teenagers accused of killing a 20-year-old Arvada woman were in the same room Wednesday for the first time since their arrest. Nicholas Karol-Chik, Zachary Kwak and Joseph Koenig — handcuffed, wearing orange jumpsuits and plastic clogs — took their seats in a Jefferson County courtroom and did not look at each other.

First Judicial District Attorney Alexis King Wednesday formally charged Karol-Chik, Koenig and Kwak with thirteen counts each in connection with Alexa Bartell’s alleged murder, which shocked the community.

The charges were:

• One count of first-degree murder with extreme indifference
• Six counts of criminal attempt to commit first-degree murder 
• Three count of second-degree assault
• Three counts of criminal attempt to commit second-degree assault

Kwak smiled at his family, who attended the hearing, but the bespectacled Karol-Chik stared straight ahead and appeared to ignore his father’s gaze.

Each answered “yes, your honor” in clear voices when they were asked by First Judicial District Court Judge Christopher Zenisek whether they understood the charges against them and each one waived their right to have their preliminary hearings held in 35 days. That hearing is where prosecutors present evidence to the judge, who must decide if enough exists to send the defendants to trial.

Seven members of Bartell’s family, including her mother, Kelly, entered the courtroom and took up the first row. They listened intently to the proceedings, which were over within 15 minutes.

Colorado trial attorney and former Denver Chief Deputy District Attorney Craig Silverman said the high-profile and dastardly nature of the crime elevated what would normally be a routine event.

“The start of any criminal case is like the meeting at home plate before the real game begins,” Silverman said.

Bartell died when a rock thrown from an oncoming truck smashed into her windshield, hit her in the head, and exited the back window of her yellow Chevy Spark, according to police.

She was on the phone with a friend as she driving on Indiana Street, a remote two-lane highway in Broomfield, when the line went silent at 10:45 p.m. Wednesday April 19. Her funeral was last weekend. 

Three other drivers were injured in the crime spree which lasted 45 minutes as the three suspects allegedly drove around northwest Jefferson County lobbing landscaping rocks from either a sun roof or from side windows, according to the arrest affidavit. Seven cars were hit between 10:00 and 10:45 p.m. that night.

In a chilling statement to Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies, Kwak said after they hit Bartell’s car, the three made a U-turn and drove by and he took a photo of the car for a memento. The next day, the teens vowed to stay mum about their night of deadly mischief and came up with a corroborating story about what happened, according to the arrest affidavit. 

Despite those plans, Kwak and Karol-Chik gave investigators conflicting stories as to who threw the rock which killed Bartell. Koenig never gave an interview.

Investigators arrested the three last week. Koenig’s father, Mark, was also arrested when deputies showed up at his house to arrest his son. He was released and faces a charge of obstruction. 

The defendants are next due in court May 16.