LAS VEGAS, NV – An allegedly deliberate killing of what was initially thought to be a deadly hit-and-run of a retired police chief in mid-August has resulted two arrests following the release of a video of the incident.
Back on August 14th, 64-year-old Andreas Rene Probst, a retired police chief out of California, was on a morning bicycle ride out in Las Vegas when he was fatally struck by the driver of a 2016 Hyundai Elantra.
While one of two suspects allegedly involved was arrested on the same day of the incident, police officials did not explicitly convey whether the fatal striking of Probst was an intentional act.
Local news outlet, Las Vegas Review-Journal, released an article on August 18th, four days following the fatal incident, with a headline reading, “Retired police chief killed in bike crash remembered for laugh, love of coffee.”
But then, on August 29th, new evidence was obtained by police thanks to a school resource officer in the form of a video that went viral on social media, specifically on X (formerly Twitter). The video depicted the suspects gleefully boasting about how they should run over the victim moments before actually following through with the statements.
The suspects were later arrested and identified as teenagers. The driver was identified as then-17-year-old Jesus Ayala, who has turned 18 since the incident. He originally faced charges of hit-and-run, but those were upgraded due to the video evidence showing a clear murder.
Ayala later said to arresting officers, "You think this juvenile [expletive] is gonna do some [expletive]? I'll be out in 30 days, I'll bet you." Before police mentioned the biker, he also said, "It's just ah, [expletive] ah, hit-and-run; slap on the wrist." His arrest was initially for a warrant and obstructing a peace officer, but the officer found the footage on his phone.
The passenger who can be heard on video telling Ayala to run over the biker was identified as 16-year-old Jzamir Keys. Keys was arrested several days after Ayala. One teen is heard saying, "We gotta get out of here" following the murder.
Due to the contents of the video obtained by police, Ayala and Keys have since been charged with murder, attempted murder, battery, and potentially other charges, and are both being tried as adults.
Local CBS affiliate, 8NewsNow, spoke with the mothers of both suspects following their arrests. Ayala's mother told the news outlet, “I don’t know why he did this. I don’t know if God can forgive this.” Ayala is said to have a lengthy criminal past.
Keys' mother, on the other hand, initially hung up on the reporter, but then responded via text, saying, “My son’s side of the story will be told, ‘the truth,’ not the inaccuracies the media will try to portray."
Keys was reportedly a part of the child welfare system at the age of eight, and his mother was charged with five counts of child abuse. In 2016, police found the woman's five children, aged two to nine, home alone without food and the house in "poor condition."
The other charges both young men are facing involve another hit-and-run of a cyclist. That time, police believe Keys was driving. He hit a 72-year-old man who survived the assault. Two other hit-and-runs were atrributed to the boys, and the video shows them hitting another vehicle before striking and killing the former police chief. Additionally, they had stolen four cars just that day.
Back on August 14th, 64-year-old Andreas Rene Probst, a retired police chief out of California, was on a morning bicycle ride out in Las Vegas when he was fatally struck by the driver of a 2016 Hyundai Elantra.
While one of two suspects allegedly involved was arrested on the same day of the incident, police officials did not explicitly convey whether the fatal striking of Probst was an intentional act.
Local news outlet, Las Vegas Review-Journal, released an article on August 18th, four days following the fatal incident, with a headline reading, “Retired police chief killed in bike crash remembered for laugh, love of coffee.”
But then, on August 29th, new evidence was obtained by police thanks to a school resource officer in the form of a video that went viral on social media, specifically on X (formerly Twitter). The video depicted the suspects gleefully boasting about how they should run over the victim moments before actually following through with the statements.
The suspects were later arrested and identified as teenagers. The driver was identified as then-17-year-old Jesus Ayala, who has turned 18 since the incident. He originally faced charges of hit-and-run, but those were upgraded due to the video evidence showing a clear murder.
Ayala later said to arresting officers, "You think this juvenile [expletive] is gonna do some [expletive]? I'll be out in 30 days, I'll bet you." Before police mentioned the biker, he also said, "It's just ah, [expletive] ah, hit-and-run; slap on the wrist." His arrest was initially for a warrant and obstructing a peace officer, but the officer found the footage on his phone.
The passenger who can be heard on video telling Ayala to run over the biker was identified as 16-year-old Jzamir Keys. Keys was arrested several days after Ayala. One teen is heard saying, "We gotta get out of here" following the murder.
Due to the contents of the video obtained by police, Ayala and Keys have since been charged with murder, attempted murder, battery, and potentially other charges, and are both being tried as adults.
Local CBS affiliate, 8NewsNow, spoke with the mothers of both suspects following their arrests. Ayala's mother told the news outlet, “I don’t know why he did this. I don’t know if God can forgive this.” Ayala is said to have a lengthy criminal past.
Keys' mother, on the other hand, initially hung up on the reporter, but then responded via text, saying, “My son’s side of the story will be told, ‘the truth,’ not the inaccuracies the media will try to portray."
Keys was reportedly a part of the child welfare system at the age of eight, and his mother was charged with five counts of child abuse. In 2016, police found the woman's five children, aged two to nine, home alone without food and the house in "poor condition."
The other charges both young men are facing involve another hit-and-run of a cyclist. That time, police believe Keys was driving. He hit a 72-year-old man who survived the assault. Two other hit-and-runs were atrributed to the boys, and the video shows them hitting another vehicle before striking and killing the former police chief. Additionally, they had stolen four cars just that day.
For corrections or revisions, click here.
The opinions reflected in this article are not necessarily the opinions of LET
Comments
2023-09-25T17:40-0400 | Comment by: Jackie
Both of them should be in solitary confinement for life. They do not deserve any freedoms whatsoever while they are serving 10 consecutive years in jail and no possibility of being released early. Premeditated murder and torture of innocent man is the most heinous crime. Put them on death row.