A teenager who was caught on camera laughing while fatally running over a retired cop on his bicycle is unfit to stand trial next month.
Jesus Ayala has been moved from prison to a maximum security psychiatriac facility in Las Vegas to undergo further competency testing.
The 19-year-old was arrested in August 2023 and charged with murder, accused of intentionally striking down Andreas Probst, 64, in a stolen car.
Ayala taunted cops at the time of his arrest, allegedly telling them that because he was a juvenile he’d be ‘out in 30 days… it’s just a hit-and-run – slap on the wrist.’
Now, weeks out from his murder trial, there is doubt over his mental competency.
Jesus Ayala has been moved from prison to a maximum security psychiatriac facility in Las Vegas to undergo further competency testing. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department stated the teenager is a member of the ‘Night Crawlers criminal gang’, in an arrest report. Ayala has the letters NC tattoed prominently on his cheek
During a previous hearing, the two teenage suspects are said to have flipped off Probst’s daughter and wife and giggled amongst themselves
Ayala and Keys are both facing charges which include murder in relation to the death of retired police chief Andreas Probst, pictured
During a competency hearing on Wednesday in Nevada, Ayala’s public defender revealed some doctors had raised concerns that the teenager has brain damage.
Criminal proceedings against Ayala must be halted until an official determination can be made as to his fitness to stand trial.
Ayala and his co-accused, Jzamir Keys were 17 and 15 at the time of the crash, which prohibits the state from handing down the death penalty or life without parole if convicted.
At most, they could receive life in prison with parole eligibility after 20 years, Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said.
The duo were allegedly in the midst of a crime spree at the time of Probst’s death, having stolen a series of cars and striking a separate cyclist, aged 72, earlier. That man survived the collision with minor injuries.
Probst was a retired former police chief who was on a recreational bike ride when he was struck from behind and left on the side of the road to die
Probst, 64, was was fatally struck on August 14 while cycling in northwest Las Vegas. Footage filmed by the passenger appears to show he was intentionally killed
Probst was a retired former police chief who was on a recreational bike ride when he was struck from behind and left on the side of the road to die.
Ayala is facing a separate attempted murder charge for a separate alleged crime, accused of stabbing a man in the face on June 27, 2023. Court proceedings in that matter will also be impacted by the competency hearing outcome.
The victim in that case came forward and identified Ayala in a photo lineup after his arrest for the fatal attack on Probst.
Ayala, pictured with a black NC tattoo on his cheek, faces another charge of attempted murder after a was stabbed in his face and back in June. Police said he is a member of the ‘Night Crawlers criminal gang’
Jesus Ayala, 19, and Jzamir Keys, 16, are suspected of intentionally striking Andreas Probst , 64, while he was riding his bicycle down an empty highway at around 6am on August 14 2023
Graphic video shows a dashboard view from the front seat of a vehicle approaching Probst from behind while he was riding near the curb on an otherwise traffic-free road.
Laughter and comments from inside the car are heard before Probst, wearing a red shirt and dark shorts, was struck and thrown against the windshield.
A final image from the moving car shows the retired top cop on the ground beside the curb.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department stated the teenager is a member of the ‘Night Crawlers criminal gang’, in an arrest report.
Ayala has the letters NC tattoed prominently on his cheek.