Vegas teen previously accused of gleefully mowing down retired police chief in stolen car charged in unrelated stabbing



Jesus Ayala of Las Vegas allegedly went on a murderous rampage with a friend in August — laughing maniacally on camera while running other vehicles off the road in a stolen vehicle, then mowing down 64-year-old retired police chief Andreas Probst.

New criminal charges filed on Jan. 19 indicate this monstrous bloodletting may not have been Ayala's first. Another victim has stepped forward, accusing Ayala of a crime that occurred in June 2023.

"Recently it came to our attention that [Ayala] allegedly was involved in an attempted murder case, a stabbing, so we charged him with crimes resulting in that," Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson told KSNV-TV.

Months ahead of Ayala's alleged August rampage, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department received a report that a stabbing victim whose torso and ear had been slashed multiple times walked into the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada on June 27, reported KVVU-TV.

Hospital records reportedly indicated that the victim, taken to the hospital by his roommate, suffered multiple stab wounds to the face and a stab wound to the back.

The victim told investigators at the time that two males ambushed him with brass knuckles, brutalized him, then left him lying on the ground without robbing him. A bloody knife was later found near the scene of the attack.

The victim later clarified in an interview with police that a male suspect first accused him of stealing something, then five individuals came over and began attacking him.

A witness confirmed to police on June 28 that five individuals ostensibly under the age of 18 participated in an "extremely violent" attack on the victim. The witness added that had the attack continued, the victim would surely have perished.

Ayala was later identified by a witness as one of the "big homies" involved in the savage June attack.

Cellphone records cited by police place Ayala in the area of the attack at the time of the stabbing, reported KSNV.

While the knife found at the scene of the crime reportedly did not come back with a "suitable print match" to Ayala, forthcoming DNA results may alternatively confirm who did the stabbing.

The victim ultimately identified Ayala from a photo lineup as his attacker on Sept. 19, 2023.

Ayala is scheduled to appear in in Clark County Justice Court on Feb. 28 for a preliminary hearing on the new attempted murder charge.

"Mr. Ayala is entitled to his day in court, he is entitled to have a good lawyer, he is entitled to cross-examine the witnesses, he is entitled to present devices on his own behalf, but at the end of the day we have a jury system and court jury will decide his guilt or innocence," Wolfson told KSNV. "We feel very confident in the strength of our case, we feel very confident that we will get justice for these victims."

"We have accused him of doing some pretty serious things. I mean open murder, you can't get more serious than that, and now an attempted murder charge," added Wolfson.

Ayala's other trial begins on Nov. 12.

Blaze News previously reported that Ayala was indicted by a grand jury in October for murder with the use of a deadly weapon; attempted murder with use of a deadly weapon; battery with use of a deadly weapon resulting in substantial bodily harm; and two counts of failing to stop at the scene of a crash involving death. The charges were enhanced because Probst, the former police chief of Bell, California, was a senior citizen.

Both Ayala and co-defendant Jzamir Keys were also slapped with felony charges of residential burglary, use of a deadly weapon, three counts of grand larceny auto, and three counts of possession of a stolen vehicle.

The duo appear to have filmed themselves driving a white sedan off the road on Aug. 14, then targeting Probst for slaughter. Ayala is believed to have been behind the wheel at the time.

In the video, one of the perpetrators can be heard asking the other, "Ready?"

The other responds, "Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Hit his a**," all the while laughing.

The duo proceed to run over Probst, leaving his crumpled body bleeding out on the roadside.

The vehicle Ayala allegedly used to kill Probst was found less than 10 minutes away from the crash site with blood streaked across its windshield.

After allegedly murdering Probst, Ayala and his compatriot are said to have stolen additional vehicles, then crashed them into one another for fun near a shopping plaza.

Police found another video on Ayala's cell phone allegedly showing the duo also driving into a 72-year-old man on a bicycle, then roaring with laughter. The other cyclist survived the attack.

While ineligible for the death penalty, Ayala faces a maximum of life in state prison.

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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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Las Vegas teen bet arresting officers he'd only receive a 'slap on the wrists' for mowing down 64-year-old former police chief in stolen car: Report



The teens accused of fatally mowing down 64-year-old retired police chief Andreas Probst with a stolen car on Aug. 14 appeared in Las Vegas Justice Court on Thursday. Jesus Ayala, 18, and Jzamir Keys, 16, face a variety of charges including murder and are being tried as adults in the death penalty state.

According to police, Ayala, whose alleged inhumanity was caught on film, appeared wholly unrepentant upon being taken into custody, telling officers, "You think this juvenile [expletive] is gonna do some [expletive]? I'll be out in 30 days, I'll bet you," reported KLAS-TV.

Ayala, whose criminal record in the juvenile system is substantial, added, "It's just ah, [expletive] ah, hit-and-run — slap on the wrist."

These remarks, volunteered before arresting officers had even mentioned the hit-and-run, were reportedly captured on a police body camera.

Ayala and Keys are believed to be the two men who filmed themselves driving a white sedan off the road, then targeting Probst for slaughter.

In the video, one perpetrator asks the other, "Ready?"

The other responds, "Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Hit his a**," all the while laughing.

Sources familiar with the investigation told KLAS that the stolen car allegedly used by the duo to hit the former police chief of Bell, California, was found less than 10 minutes away from the crash site with blood streaked across its windshield.

After leaving Probst bleeding in their wake, Ayala and Keys are said to have stolen two additional vehicles near Lake Mead Boulevard and Torrey Pines Drive, which they then crashed into one another for kicks near a shopping plaza.

Probst was apparently not the duo's only victim.

Extra to the footage of Probst's slaying, police found another video on Ayala's cell phone of a second bicyclist being struck by a Kia Soul.

KLAS 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 roar with laughter as their car's engine can be heard accelerating.

The elderly victim reportedly survived.

Clark County Detention Records indicate that Ayala, the suspected driver who can be heard in the video gleefully targeting Probst for annihilation, faces the following charges: open murder with the use of a deadly weapon; attempted murder; battery with use of a deadly weapon; failure to stop at the scene of a crash involving a death or injury; reckless driving resulting in substantial bodily harm or death; five counts of possession, receipt or transference of a stolen vehicle; two counts of grand larceny of a motor vehicle; burglary of structure; possession of burglary tools; conspiracy grand larceny of auto; and conspiracy burglary.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal indicated Ayala is facing another case in the juvenile court system for which he can be similarly charged as an adult.

Keys, who appears to have egged on the driver and filmed the mayhem, has been charged with open murder with use of a deadly weapon, attempted murder, and battery with use of a deadly weapon.

If tried and convicted of first-degree murder as adults, the teens could face 50 years in prison, life in Nevada State Prison, or the death penalty. If convicted of second-degree murder, the teens could face 25 years or life in prison.

When pressed by reporters on what the duo's bail would be set at, Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said, "The determination of whether somebody should remain in custody is based upon whether they’re a flight risk or a danger to the community. ... I believe they’re potentially both. They have certainly proved that they are dangerous."

Taylor Probst, the victim's daughter, said at a press conference earlier this week, "Andy’s life was robbed by two individuals who did not believe that lives of others matter."

Taylor Probst called on Wolfson's office "to take these crimes to the furthest extent of the law."

Wolfson in response stressed, "Justice will be served in this case."

Ayala's mother thinks her son may be beyond redemption, telling KLAS, "I don't know why he did this. ... I don't know if God can forgive this."

Keys' mother, on the other hand — who was reportedly charged with five counts of child abuse in 2016, pleaded guilty to gross misdemeanor child abuse, and was ultimately convicted for misdemeanor disorderly conduct — claimed the media has not told the truth about her son's involvement, suggesting her "son's side of the story will be told."

The duo, who were still in the Clark County Detention Center as of Thursday, are scheduled to reappear in court on Sept. 26.

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Las Vegas teen expected ‘slap on the wrist’ for hitting, killing cyclist: ‘I’ll be out in 30 days, Iyoutu.be