Police in Colorado are asking for public assistance with a homicide investigation that claimed the life a female motorist this week.
The fatal rock throwing spree occurred beginning the night of April 19 and into the morning of April 20 in Westminster, Arvada, Boulder County, and Jefferson County, Colorado, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO).
Authorities say that at least five rock-throwing incidents have been identified and police suspect that there may be more. One driver died and two others were hurt.
The woman who was killed was identified as 20 year old Alexa Bartell, whose vehicle was found off the roadway. Bartell was talking on the phone with a friend while driving northbound near the 10600 block of Indiana St. when her phone went silent. The friend tracked her location and found Bartell fatally injured in the car in a nearby field.
JCSO released the known timeline of rock-throwing incidents from that night:
- 10:04 p.m. – Westminster – 100th Ave. & Simms St. – rock through windshield – driver not injured
- 10:36 p.m. – Boulder County – McCaslin Blvd & S. Indiana St. (entrance to Rock Creek neighborhood) rock through windshield – minor injuries to driver
- 10:37 p.m. – Boulder County – McCaslin Blvd & S. Indiana St. (entrance to Rock Creek neighborhood) – rock vs.Toyota 4-Runner – body damage to vehicle, driver not injured
- 10:45 p.m. – Jefferson County – 10600 block of Indiana St. – rock through windshield of yellow Chevy Spark – homicide
- April 20 at 12:24 a.m. – Arvada – Hwy 93 at Hwy 72 – rock through windshield – minor injuries to driver
Police believe that the suspect or suspects were in a light-colored pickup truck or SUV and that they may have thrown rocks either from the vehicle or from the side of the road.
JCSO is working with the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, Arvada Police and Westminster Police in the investigation.
“Investigators need the public’s help identifying and locating the suspects involved in these crimes. If you were in any of these areas and witnessed anything related to the suspect vehicle or the suspects who may have been inside, call the JCSO tip line at 303-271-5612. No piece of information is insignificant. If you have home security or dash cameras that may have caught the vehicle driving by, we want to hear from you,” JCSO said.