Jesus Ayala, the 19-year-old facing charges of murdering retired police chief Andreas Probst in a shocking hit-and-run incident captured on video, has been ruled unfit to stand trial next month due to concerns over his mental competency. Ayala, who was filmed laughing while allegedly mowing down Probst, 64, during a crime spree, has been transferred from prison to a maximum-security psychiatric facility in Las Vegas for further evaluation.
The unsettling footage of Probst’s final moments shows him riding his bike along a quiet Las Vegas road on August 14, 2023, when Ayala and a passenger allegedly accelerated a stolen vehicle toward him. Laughter and taunts can be heard from inside the car moments before impact, leading to widespread outrage. After the crash, Ayala reportedly mocked police, claiming he’d face minimal punishment due to his age.
At a competency hearing on Wednesday, Ayala’s defense disclosed that doctors had flagged possible brain damage, adding a complex layer to his legal proceedings. Criminal proceedings must pause until officials confirm his fitness to stand trial. If Ayala and his co-defendant, Jzamir Keys, who was 15 at the time, are found guilty, the maximum sentence would be life in prison with parole eligibility after 20 years, as they are ineligible for the death penalty due to their ages at the time of the crime.
In addition to murder charges, Ayala faces an attempted murder charge related to a separate incident in June 2023, when he allegedly stabbed a man in the face. This case, too, is now dependent on the outcome of his competency evaluation.
Ayala’s arrest report identifies him as a member of the “Night Crawlers” gang, with a prominent “NC” tattoo on his cheek. As the case unfolds, the graphic nature of Probst’s death and Ayala’s alleged criminal record have intensified public calls for justice.
