Las Vegas teens accused of running over retired police chief in stolen car continue laughing in courtroom, taunt victim's grieving family
Jzamir Keys, 16, and Jesus Ayala, 18, are accused of fatally mowing down 64-year-old retired police chief Andreas Probst with a stolen car on Aug. 14 — a horrific slaying caught on film, along with the duo's maniacal laughter. In court Tuesday, the alleged murderers kept on laughing.
The victim's daughter, Taylor Probst, was present at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas for the hearing. She indicated that Keys and Ayala "did not respect the court whatsoever. ... They were just d**king around the entire time," reported KSNV-TV.
The duo apparently also taunted the victim's grieving family.
"They (the defendants) were flipping us off," continued Taylor Probst. "They were snickering, laughing, trying to mad-dog us and intimidate us, which didn't work."
Taylor Probst said, "It just makes him look bad," referencing Ayala's rude gestures to the family. "How can you sit there after taking a man's life and act like such an entitled p***k?"
Crystal Probst, the victim's widow, said she didn't let the teens bother her despite their apparent efforts to intimidate the family, reported the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
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District Judge Jacqueline Bluth informed the teens Tuesday that their trial was set for Sept. 16, 2024. They will both be tried as adults.
Ayala and Keys were indicted by a grand jury earlier this month on the following charges, enhanced because Probst was a senior citizen: murder with use of a deadly weapon; attempted murder with use of a deadly weapon; battery with use of a deadly weapon reslting in substantial bodily harm; and two counts of duty to stop at the scene of a crash involving death.
They also face unenhanced felony charges of residential burglary, use of a deadly weapon, three counts of grance larceny auto, and three counts of possession of a stolen vehicle.
Both pleaded not guilty on Oct. 11.
Although Nevada has the death penalty, the teens are not eligible on account of their age. They instead face a maximum of life in state prison.
David Westrook, Ayala's attorney, said he intends to seek the release of his client from jail pending trial, reported the Las Vegas Sun.
Ayala and Keys appear to have filmed parts of their rampage, including when they allegedly drove a white sedan off the road, then targeted Probst, the former police chief of Bell, California, for slaughter.
In the gruesome video, one perpetrator asks the other, "Ready?"
The other responds, "Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Hit his a**," all the while laughing.
The stolen 2016 Hyundai Elantra allegedly used by the duo to hit Probst was reportedly found less than 10 minutes away from where the victim's body was found with blood splashed across its windshield.
Probst was not the duo's only alleged victim.
Police found another video on Ayala's cell phone of a second bicyclist being struck by a Kia Soul.
KLAS-TV indicated that in the video of the second incident, taken by Ayala, a voice can be heard repeatedly urging the driver to "bump him," referencing a 72-year-old man riding his bicycle on the far side of the street. Both suspects cackle as their car's engine can be heard accelerating.
The elderly victim suffered a knee injury but ultimately survived.
Ayala can be heard in bodycam footage later telling his arresting officer, "You think this juvenile [expletive] is gonna do some [expletive]? I'll be out in 30 days, I'll bet you."
Ayala, whose criminal record in the juvenile system is substantial, added, "It's just ah, [expletive] ah, hit-and-run — slap on the wrist."
His mother told KLAS her son might be beyond saving, saying, "I don't know why he did this. ... I don't know if God can forgive this."
Taylor and Crystal Probst indicated they will continue to attend the teens' court appearances, seeking justice and carrying on the victim's memory.
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