Overview

• Nicholas Karol-Chik, 20, was sentenced to 45 years in prison for second-degree murder and related charges stemming from the 2023 rock-throwing death of Alexa Bartell.
• Karol-Chik, along with Joseph Koenig and Zachary Kwak, engaged in a series of random rock-throwing attacks on vehicles, culminating in Bartell's death when a 9.3-pound rock was thrown through her windshield.
• As part of a plea deal, Karol-Chik testified against Koenig, who was convicted of first-degree murder and faces a life sentence at his June 3, 2025, sentencing.
• Karol-Chik expressed remorse in court, attributing his actions to peer pressure and a desire to fit in, while Bartell's family delivered emotional statements about their ongoing grief and loss.
• Zachary Kwak, the third participant, is set to be sentenced on May 2, 2025, with prosecutors seeking a 20–32 year prison term.