Two teenagers accused of killing a retired police chief were seen in court grinning, laughing and making obscene hand gestures as a trial date was set for the pair.
Jesus Ayala, 18, and Jzamir Keys, 16, are both charged with numerous crimes, including murder in connection with the death of Andreas Probst, 64.
During a hearing Tuesday morning, both defendants could be seen smiling and laughing as Probst’s family gathered in a Las Vegas courtroom.
The pair were charged as adults and pleaded not guilty to multiple crimes, including murder, assault and grand theft auto.
Probst died after he was hit by a car while riding his bike on a highway. Police believe Ayala and Keys did this intentionally in August.
The two teenagers were seen grinning and laughing in the courtroom on Tuesday along with their alleged victim’s family
During the hearing in which a trial date was set, the two are also said to have fooled Probst’s daughter and wife
Ayala and Keys are both charged with numerous crimes, including murder in connection with the death of Andreas Probst (see picture).
Probst’s daughter Taylor told KSNV after the hearing, “These guys had no respect for the court at all. ‘They were just messing around the whole time.’
During the hearing where a trial date was set, Taylor said the two had screwed her and her mother over.
She told the outlet, “They (the defendants) screwed us over.” How can you sit there after taking a man’s life and act like such an entitled bastard?
In addition to the fatal collision with Probst, which the two are said to have filmed, police believe she was also involved in another incident that day in which a 72-year-old cyclist was mowed down.
A new video released by a local court on Monday allegedly shows the teens laughing and intentionally hitting the 72-year-old man.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the victim suffered a knee injury from the accident but survived.
Separate surveillance footage is believed to have shown the suspects attempting to flee police by running through a parking lot.
According to the police, the two teenagers stole three cars in addition to the two cyclists and committed a burglary within two hours.
Ayala faces 18 charges stemming from the incident, including murder, attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, leaving the scene of an accident, and numerous separate charges of theft and burglary.
Officers arrested Ayala hours after he allegedly drove into Probst, telling officers he wouldn’t be locked up much longer.
Ayala told police: “You think this is a juvenile.” [expletive] will do some things [expletive]? I bet I’ll be out in 30 days.’
Probst’s daughter Taylor criticized the two for their behavior in court, saying the two had been “fucking around”
Probst, 64, was fatally shot while cycling in northwest Las Vegas on August 14. Footage filmed by the passenger shows that he was killed intentionally by the driver
Surveillance footage released Monday is believed to have shown the suspects attempting to flee police by running through a parking lot
He added: “It’s just ah, [expletive] Ah, hit-and-run – slap on the wrist,” even though the police had not yet mentioned the accident to him, according to KLAS. His comments were captured by police body cameras.
Police had only arrested him for a warrant and obstructing a peace officer, but discovered the stark footage of Probst being hit by a car on his cell phone.
They also found a second video of a Kia Soul plowing into another cyclist, with the footage apparently taken by Ayala, who appeared to be the car’s passenger.
His passenger, 16-year-old Jzamir Keys, is accused of filming the stark footage of the attack, egging on the retired police officer as they clashed with him.
The graphic video shows a dashboard view from the front seat of a vehicle approaching Probst from behind as he drove near the curb on an otherwise traffic-free street.
Laughter and comments can be heard from inside the car before Probst, who was wearing a red shirt and dark shorts, was hit and thrown against the windshield.
A final image from the moving car shows the retired top police officer on the ground next to the curb.
At a news conference, Taylor Probst described her father – known as “Andy” to her loved ones – as a man of honor and integrity who worked in law enforcement for more than 35 years
Jesus Ayala’s mother said she “doesn’t know” whether her then 17-year-old son can be forgiven for his alleged crimes.
She previously told 8 News Now: “I don’t know why he did that. ‘I don’t know if God can forgive that.’
Keys’ mother promised that his “side of the story” would be told, branding it “the truth” and not “inaccuracies that the media is trying to portray.”
During an earlier court hearing, two of Keys’ relatives cried and one of Ayala’s female relatives was also present.
According to the Journal, she hid her face and held back tears as she walked past reporters outside the courtroom afterward.
According to 8 News Now, Ayala has a long criminal history in the juvenile justice system, while Keys was placed in the child welfare system at the age of eight.
Andreas Probst is pictured here with his daughter Taylor in an undated photo
Prosecutors believe the killing of Probst, a former police chief in Bell, California, ended the rampage.
Deputy Police Chief Nick Farese called the “intentional” collision with a stolen vehicle and the sick video “a cowardly act that has personally appalled me in my 22 years as a law enforcement officer.”
At a news conference, Taylor Probst described her father – known as “Andy” to her loved ones – as a man of honor and integrity who worked in law enforcement for more than 35 years.
“We are devastated by Andy’s senseless murder,” she said. “Andy’s life was robbed by two people who didn’t believe the lives of others mattered.”
Probst called on the DA’s office to “prosecute these crimes to the fullest extent of the law.”
Judge Bluth set the trial date for September 16, 2024. The teenagers and their lawyers are expected to appear in court again in March to assess their readiness for trial.